julianvassalloarchitecture

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

The concept for Dean Gera’s 1st international hair salon is one of discover. The idea for the salon is one which is completely new to the Dean Gera brand, where the experience of the user is clearly divided into separate stages, isolating each phase of a haircut.

Visitors enter the salon and are greeted at a large waiting area. As one waits, a display cabinet sits opposite, which not only contains products, but allows for guests to peek into the hair cutting area. Guests are then moved onto the next stage, the hair washing stations. Visitors are enclosed in a ‘safe environment’ which is cut away from the busy hair cutting space, however glimpses of movement may be noticed through a light shear opposite. Guests then transition onto the hair cutting area. This stage is cut off from the other stages by a shear. Free standing hair stations are used to further enhance the feeling of detachment for the user. As one leaves, the double fronted reception desk is the first and last object the visitor experiences.

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

A typical, 2 storey terraced house in Swieqi has been chosen as the site for the construction of 3 new apartments. The brief of the project was a simple exercise of understanding if the current site could accommodate comfortable 2 bedroom apartments. Due to the narrow and elongated site, the brief was challenged in order to develop a set of apartments that eliminated long corridors, dark circulation routes and the typical open plan living space.

By entering the apartments from the centre, long corridors have been eliminated as private and living functions have been separated on either ends of the site. By offsetting the useable floor space from the party wall on the facade, an open air slit is created, offering the possibility of more windows into the living spaces. The slit also allows light to enter the common parts. An outdoor terrace is added with close proximity to the kitchen area which is shaded with louvers.

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

The project scope entails the rehabilitation and extension of an existing 4th floor apartment in Floriana. The approach to the layout contains a dual aspect – restoration to the front of the apartment and maximizing on space towards the rear. Entering at the centre of the apartment, the functions are split in the middle, with living areas towards the front and private areas towards the rear.

Freeing the front rooms from clutter, the living spaces are opened up. Views could be appreciated from the 3 large windows on the façade, which led to the decision of have a central kitchen island, dividing the casual living area and the formal dining space. Bulky kitchen appliances are concealed in cupboards which mimic the indentations of the existing apertures.

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

The aim of my thesis is to develop a cultural community that regenerates the Marsa area and unifies the site with the rest of the Grand Harbour cultural package. The shipbuilding site will be developed as an area that can promote, facilitate, sustain and engage the community with contemporary culture on a day to day basis. This will lead to a multi-mixed use where locals can be educated, work, exhibit and make profit with the aim of developing a cultural district.  The aim is to develop a venue that can host a “yearly” main event that will instigate this push towards a community that flourishes and boasts about its contemporary culture. The aims are to bring exposure to both the site and to the locals at an international level, and to re brand the city. The event will attract both foreigners and their work which benefits Malta’s education, economic and tourism sector.

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

[julianvassalloarchitecture]

The project scope entails the rehabilitation of an existing, corner townhouse in Senglea, whilst establishing an infill of the existing streetscape. The project brief calls for maximum appreciation of sea views, which resulted in the bedroom areas being proposed on the lower floors whilst the living areas being proposed at the higher levels, with the installation of a home lift. 

The nature of the project calls for an increase in built volume, whilst being respectful to the existing streetscapes and the surrounding building heights. The concept for the increased volume on the façade called for a carefully studied façade, that works well within the surrounding context, both in terms of proportion and materials. By “elevating” the newly built volume off the existing building, a clear distinction between what is existing and new is naturally highlighted, introducing a subtle element of contemporary design within the existing streetscape. This clear distinction introduces additional horizontal elements within the building, which could also be appreciated by the surrounding buildings. The horizontal aspect is also emphasized with the use of an ‘Imbroll’ stone façade, which runs along the extension. The lowering of the existing windows not only increases natural light and ventilation within the bedrooms but also improves the proportions of the newly elongated building. The recess of usable area on third floor, creates a green buffer/planter between the façade and indoors, introducing an element of greenery to the building & streetscape. The repetition of the existing internal staircase provides a recessed access to a roof terrace which is in keeping with the surrounding recessed heights.