PROJECT COOPERATIVES BOARD

PROJECT ARCHITECT CLAUDE BORG, STRUCTURAL DESIGN BY AMANDA DE GIOVANNI

1998 | Restoration Unit

An office with a two-level layout and exposed brick walls. The upper level has black chairs and a bookshelf, while the lower level contains desks, computers, and various office supplies. Large windows allow natural light to fill the space, and there are plants and a wooden crucifix on the wall.

COOPERATIVES BOARD OFFICES: A REVERSIBLE INTERVENTION WITHIN A HISTORIC VAULT

The Cooperatives Board offices were accommodated within a historic barrel-vaulted structure dating from the time of the Knights. The space was largely untouched and retained its original architectural character. The challenge was to provide the additional office space required by the Cooperatives Board without permanently altering or concealing the historic structure.

The project was therefore guided by two main principles: reversibility and legibility.

The new intervention needed to provide a modern and functional workplace while allowing the original barrel-vaulted space to remain clearly visible and understandable.

Architectural blueprint displaying floor plans and cross-sections of a building with curved and rectangular sections, including details of walls, stairs, and structural elements.

THE CHALLENGE OF CREATING MORE SPACE

The existing space was not large enough to accommodate all the required offices and facilities. The solution was to introduce an intermediate floor, creating additional usable space within the volume of the historic structure.

However, a conventional floor could have divided the space and hidden the barrel vault. The design therefore aimed to create a new level without losing the sense of the original volume.

The intermediate floor was designed to allow the historic structure to remain visible, preserving the perception of the full height and character of the space.

Interior of a construction site with unfinished walls, scattered debris, and construction materials on the floor.
An abandoned room with debris scattered on the floor, peeling paint on the walls, and a partially open door leading outside.
Old, weathered doorway with glass panels leading to an exterior walkway, surrounded by peeling paint and worn walls, indicating abandonment or disrepair.

A STRUCTURE THAT DOES NOT DEPEND ON THE HISTORIC BUILDING

A key principle of the project was to detach the new intervention from the historic fabric. The intermediate floor was designed as an independent structure, supported on its own columns rather than relying on, or imposing unnecessary loads onto, the existing walls and vault.

Custom-designed “transparent beams” were introduced to support the new floor while maintaining visual openness. Together with the independent columns, these elements allowed the new structure to be clearly read as a contemporary addition within the historic space.

The flooring itself was constructed in solid wood, creating a lightweight and warm intervention that contrasted with, while complementing, the original masonry structure. Most importantly, the entire intervention was designed to be fully reversible. If required in the future, the new floor and its associated elements can be dismantled, allowing the historic space to return to its original form.

Interior view of a space with arched ceilings, wooden floors, a wooden railing, and a curved window with multiple panes.
People working inside a building under construction, with tools and materials scattered around.
Empty classroom or training room with chairs facing a whiteboard and a projector screen, in an arched ceiling room with wooden flooring.
An office space with a large wooden desk, black chairs, shelves filled with binders and papers, a small filing cabinet, and background equipment.
Indoor space with metal and wooden stairs, black chairs in the background, and a no-smoking sign on the wall.
Interior of an old, abandoned building with peeling paint, broken windows, and a doorway leading outside.
A person standing in a dirty, cluttered room with scattered debris, damaged walls, and a high arched ceiling.
Interior of a room under construction with stone walls and arched ceiling, construction tools and materials including a wheelbarrow, ladder, and buckets present.
People working on building or renovating a small wooden structure indoors with tools and construction materials scattered on the floor.
Men working together to assemble a large wooden structure inside a building, with one man standing on a ladder and others supporting and guiding the piece.

INTEGRATING MODERN SERVICES

Introducing modern services into a historic building presented another important challenge. Rather than cutting into the historic walls or vault to install electrical and mechanical systems, the new intermediate floor became the main route for services.

Conference or classroom room with rows of black chairs, whiteboards, a television, and bookshelves, set under a vaulted ceiling with stone arches.
Interior view of a library or study area with arched ceiling, wooden bookshelves filled with books, and a window with sunlight coming through.
Interior of an office with a modern staircase leading to a second level, with desks, computers, and office supplies visible below.