Local architecture and interior design studio, Atelier Maison, has been longlisted for the international Dezeen Awards 2020 Emerging Interior Design Studio of the year.
Dezeen is the world’s most popular and influential architecture and design website. The Dezeen Awards is the benchmark for international design excellence and the ultimate accolade for architects and designers everywhere.
Atelier Maison applied for the competition with two of their latest completed projects, both of which happen to be of a spiritual nature – The Sacred Auditorium and The Student’s Chapel. Although both projects differ in scale, the spaces created are both aesthetically beautiful and highly functional.
The Sacred Auditorium was the result of a 5 year long renovation and refit of the auditorium at the headquarters of the M.U.S.E.U.M. society. The concept was simple: to create a beautiful place where you feel like you belong and to create a timeless interior that will be enjoyed by generations to come. The aim was to make the auditorium appear as though it was carved out of stone, thus making visitors feel grounded and almost embraced within a honey coloured travertine.
The space that is coined The Student’s Chapel was originally a very standard room, made up of four walls and 2 large windows. The interior architecture of the space was redefined by introducing a number of layered planes. Each layer appearing to be isolated, and geometric shapes – like arches and squares – appear cut out from these planes, while giving the illusion of depth.
Earlier this year, Atelier Maison was the winner for the Emerging Architect award at the Malta Architecture and Spatial Planning Awards 2019.
Atelier Maison was established in May 2014, by two architects Paula Agius-Vadala’ and Katja Abela. As a practice, they focus on innovative ideas in the form of custom designs and attention to detail, whilst looking at architecture holistically. This is translated through the balance of form and volumes, timeless materials, colour and geometry, which all unite as part of a new contemporary architecture.
For Atelier Maison, new contemporary architecture should be an architecture of hope – one which is responsibly designed, and one which gives a worthy past to future generations.
The Dezeen Awards is now in its third year, and it identifies the world’s best architecture, interiors and design, as well as the studios and the individual architect and designers producing the most outstanding work.
“We are so honoured to be even considered for the emerging interior design studio, as these awards recognise talent from all around the world,” says Paula. Katja adds “It really shows that Maltese architects and designers can compete on an international level.”