House of Character For Sale in Malta

How a typical House of Character looks like.​

Houses of character in Malta are usually spread over several floors and many may have their own basements and even wells. With impressive street-facing balconies or gallerija, these homes have become national treasures and symbols of Malta’s past. Some examples include their own separate outbuildings. The general layout of rooms were traditionally separated and intended for specific use, such as bedrooms with separate bathrooms, a dining room, separate kitchens and large, separate landings on each floor. Upon entering a house of character, one would usually find an entrance hall with space for a sotto specchio (an ornate traditional Maltese entrance hall table and mirror) and passages leading off to other parts of the house.

The Challanges of Converting a House of Charcter.

Converting houses of character to meet modern day standards can be challenging, but the results are often breath-taking.  Stone floors overlaid with traditional tiles have a hard-to-resist allure for many a city dweller. These homes have often been described as places of tranquillity and refuge, providing a sharp contrast to the busy and frenetic pace of city life and this makes houses of character extremely sought-after as second or main residences.

Typical Historical Buildings in Malta

As always in the case of historic buildings, sympathetic renovation is key and one may have to improve and upgrade essentials such as ventilation, plumbing, waterproofing and electrics when buying unrenovated. The results can be truly dazzling: the combination of classic arches, stainless steel and glass paired with antique furniture or modern minimalism are often featured in the world’s best interior design magazines. Houses of character that have already been converted are usually more expensive and many people therefore prefer to go for the unrenovated option. This gives them a chance to design the home of their dreams and leave a lasting legacy. A successful mix of the ancient and modern can be truly impressive… and who does not want to own a home with a long and proud history?

Houses of character in Malta are ideally suited to those who want to live in a home that offers space, unconventional layouts, historic features and are reminiscent of yesteryear’s time-honoured craftsmanship.