PA reduces maximum building height in buffer zone area around Grade 1 Villa Barbaro

The Planning Authority has reduced the maximum height limitation for proposed buildings which fall within the scheduled buffer area of Villa Barbaro in Tarxien. This decision was taken by the PA’s Executive Council to ensure that the spatial context around one of Malta’s oldest standing country houses is not compromised.

The maximum building height within the buffer zone along Triq il-Knisja, Triq iz-Zejtun and Triq il-Kbira has been reduced by 3.1 metres. Included within the maximum height of 12.3 metres is a 4.25 metre receded floor. Any proposed building street façade within the buffer zone cannot exceed a height of 10 metres from street level. The buffer area along Triq il-Knisja has also been increased.

Villa Barbaro was originally scheduled by the Planning Authority in 1996 for its historical, architectural, and aesthetic values. In 2009 and 2020, the scheduled area was enlarged to include the gardens and a buffer zone.

Villa Barbaro and its extensive gardens were built in the 16th century by the Barbaro family. Conspicuous by its traditional, red-washed facade, the villa has a simple but uncommon convex protruding main doorway crowned by the coat-of-arms of the Barbaro family. The facade at first floor is mainly characterised by a large traditional closed timber balcony of uncommon characteristics. The lower panelled area of the balcony consists mainly of glass panes while the design of the ‘Gwarniċun’ has a decorative extension that almost covers the ‘kwartelli’.  Another uncommon characteristic of this villa is the two-storey high pavilion that occupies most of the terrace at first-floor level.

The property has considerable stylistic similarities with other country houses in Malta that also have significant architectural and historical importance, such as the Inquisitor’s Palace in Girgenti and Palazzo Gomerino in Rabat.

During World War II, the Maltese Home Guards utilised the grounds of the villa as the training grounds of the local Auxiliary soldiers.