The Grandmasters' Palace

In the heart of the capital City, the Grandmasters’ Palace remains the landmark project that shaped the backbone for de Valier architects and a re-evaluated approach for de Valier in the heritage sector.

The project at the Grandmasters’ Palace consisted primarily of a works contract that encircled around the removal of accretions in the largest courtyard of the palace, known as Prince Alfred Courtyard. This was followed by the first time the façade was restored and historically studied to offer a more authentic view of the courtyard prior to the added accretions. The restoration of the facades within this courtyard was followed by the restoration of many other external walls within the palace courtyards. The restoration works also extended to the so-called “old stables” of the Palace, which includes the restoration of two large vaults that were historically used as stables.

This package of work includes the proposed finishes and proposed new insertions within the courtyards that allow access and flow of the public within the building. de Valier was also responsible for the new Armoury Museum and the new Palace Museum, and the restoration and finishes, which included a proposal for the restoration of all the timber soffits and stone structures within these spaces. The works extended to the designed and custom-made furniture for Palace Museum as well as the Armoury Museum, including the manufacturing of new apertures and the restoration of any existing apertures.

At piano nobile level, de Valier carried out the extensive restoration of the President’s offices, that included the Cottoner’s Room and its authentic timber soffit and canvas paintings, as well as decorative wall restoration, timber apertures, and external timber balconies, proposing a new system and roofing over the largest corner balcony of the Palace. The finishing works varied from restoring marble and timber flooring, to inserting new flooring, restoring timber soffits, and replicating missing soffits in some rooms, as well as restoring British period fireplaces.

Another area at piano nobile level considered the restoration of the state rooms, including the restoration of the seventeenth century unique frescoes by Spada, the restoration of the authentic, decorative, timber soffits, and the restoration of the flooring and walls.

Works at the Palace are still ongoing, with the works in the Tapestry Room and the Throne Room to be planned for the next 18 months (about 1 and a half years), amongst other spaces. de Valier were also entrusted with the restoration of the unique eighteenth-century carriage, that has been undergoing restoration treatment the past 5 months and is currently addressing the restoration interventions on the internal fabric of the seating.