Valentino Architects Receive International Architecture Honourable Mention for Malta's VIP Terminal
Valentino Architects have been awarded an International Architecture Honourable Mention by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design for their work on Malta International Airport's VIP Terminal. The project involved the demolition and reconstruction of the Commercially Important Persons (CIP) terminal, while retaining the existing east wing for Ministerial and Diplomatic use. The design prioritized creating a strong sense of place, ensuring travelers immediately recognize Malta through the atmosphere, proportions, and materials of the spaces, rather than overt symbols. A key aspect of the reconstruction involved the careful deconstruction of the former CIP terminal's stone structure, salvaging its limestone blocks. These blocks were then sliced and reworked to reveal fresh surfaces, with each piece hand-textured using the traditional 'mannarett' chisel, a tool historically used by Maltese stoneworkers. This process created a new stone skin for the building, rich in texture and rhythm, while ... 
