The timeless beauty of the Maltese balcony

One of the most popular representative features of architecture in Malta is arguably the closed wooden balcony. Although the ‘gallarija’ conceivably originated in Morocco and was reputedly introduced into Malta by the Knights of the Order of St John in the late 17th century, we have made it our own, posting the different colours of the gallarija on a substantial percentage of promotion of our island over the years, and often referring to it as the ‘Gallarija Maltija’.

We, the architects and designers at the office of Perit Anthony Muscat are partial to the Maltese Balcony, as we believe that it contributes both aesthetically and functionally to our building designs. The integration of a closed Maltese traditional ‘gallarija’ in modern designs is not a common request of our clientele, nevertheless, we are intrigued by the fact that a significant number seem to appreciate the versatility of the balcony and how much it contributes to the appearance of a building. In fact many request its presence as the centrepiece of their façade when they engage our services for development.

The main intended function of the closed wooden balcony, as originated in Morocco, is perhaps better understood through its original name of ‘Muxrabija’, which means ‘the look-out place’. Its design is probably of Arab origin and it may well be that during the Middle Ages, when it appears to have been created, it was customary for the members of the household to view the world from behind the blinds of this Muxrabija. Whereas times and setting have changed in today’s Maltese society, people still use the balcony to be able to look outside from the interior of the house. There are, however, many other valuable reasons for installing a ‘gallarija’ which are not purely aesthetic or of a ‘spying’ nature. In fact, the professionals at Perit Muscat’s office often encourage the adoption of the balcony as it allows more light and air within the building, increases internal areas, aids in the maintaining of internal room temperature and enhances ventilation. Moreover, the balcony is ideal for certain essential daily activities within a household, such as an ideal space for drying the washing indoors during the rainy season, out of the sight of passers-by, as well as being a covered outdoor seating area which is well ventilated during the warmer months.

Notwithstanding the fact that many of our clients are fond of the ‘gallarija’, the cost of its installation may not suit all pockets, with many regretfully opting out due to the excessive costs incurred. Despite the fact that the fashion of introducing wooden balconies in villages became popular in the mid-18th century, when the exterior decoration of selected buildings was imposed by the Knights, it was not always affordable as timber was not abundant up till the period of the colonisation of Malta by the British. In fact, the popularity of the Maltese balcony owes its origins to its affordability in the 19th century. Nowadays the creation of a basic ‘red deal’ closed balcony may cost approximately between €2,000 and €10,000, depending on its size and ornateness such as sculptural detailing which would add to the cost. The building fabric and decoration around the wooden balcony is intended to facilitate its integration within the façade. The stone ‘Saljaturi’ supporting the wooden balcony are often works of art in their own right so as to match the decoration of the wooden balcony. Consequently, facades with multiple balconies could cost a great deal more to develop than those with open balconies sporting railings instead.

The concept of merging old and new designs in architecture is subject to individual taste, with many critics believing that introducing a traditional feature in modern design is synonymous with creating a ‘fake’. Whereas the craftsmanship and method of creation of the gallarija have been maintained by local carpenters throughout the ages, there are a few modifications which betray the modernity of a recently constructed gallarija when compared with one assembled in a previous era. In fact, there are those who criticise the use of the Maltese gallarija in modern buildings and believe they should be restricted to the old village cores around the island. On the other hand, within the village core, not only are new wooden balconies welcome, but the authorities have gone out of their way to protect the ones that have survived the ages, through legislation and subsidies which are issued from time to time to help in the costly maintenance or in the replacement of existing ‘gallariji’.

The merging of old and new sections of a building is a complex and delicate undertaking for the designer, with modern buildings rising up over the older buildings for a merger between architectural features originating from two different periods. Older buildings were built with higher floor-to-ceiling storeys, meaning that with today’s height limitations, dropping a building seems to be the only solution to achieving the maximum number of permissible floors. This, however, comes at a cost, since a great deal of our architectural heritage would be lost if we drop the external façade too. Hence, over the past few decades or so, the authorities have resolved to deter architects from façade demolition and are enforcing the maintaining of aged or antique facades in new developments where the rest of the building is brought down for the sake of increasing the number of floors and dwellings. Conversely, the resulting façade exhibiting the harmonious designs and balconies originating from two different epochs is not a straightforward activity, as a balance can only be struck through the ‘gallarija-conscious’ intervention of the architect.

The craftmanship of building wooden balconies has been handed down from generation to generation for around 400 years. Maltese carpenters have learnt the skills that were brought to Malta by the Knights of the Order of St John and have made them their own. Consequently the Gallarija has become an important part of our heritage. Indeed, over the ages, many carpenters have dedicated their entire lives to creating these magnificent wooden structures, in spite of the fact that they are not everyone’s cup of tea. We at Perit Anthony Muscat’s office firmly believe that the functionality of the Gallarija contributes enormously to the comfort of the home, and that its inclusion should be seen as an investment rather than merely an added expense. Indeed, a well-maintained gallarija increases the value of a property, contributes to its enduring aesthetic beauty and is a constant reminder of our rich cultural heritage.