Lembut is a contemporary family home designed for a car collector, built on the site of a former commercial garage within a traditional village core. The project aims to provide a comfortable living space for a couple and their three children while accommodating the homeowners’ classic car collection.

The name «Lembut,» meaning funnel in Maltese, reflects the site’s unusual widening shape, which posed challenges, especially after discovering it was an old backfilled quarry, preventing excavation for a basement garage. Instead, innovative solutions emerged, becoming defining features of the design.

With a narrow façade of about 3 meters, the house incorporates multifaceted facades, highlighted by a traditional Maltese «remissa» style door. This design blends harmoniously with the street context while inviting visitors into a contemporary interior.

Inside, minimalist materials and clean lines contrast with a lush rear garden, where retained citrus trees frame the main axis of the home. Double-height living spaces flood with light and connect seamlessly to the garden.

To store the car collection, the garage features a car lift that elevates vehicles to a mezzanine level, transforming the garage into a gallery that connects with the living area. This viewing gallery becomes the visual and architectural centerpiece of the home.

The first floor houses the sleeping quarters, oriented to overlook protected green areas, along with a playroom integrated into the circulation space. This design fosters a quieter social area for family enjoyment.

Ultimately, Lembut blends vernacular design with minimalist architecture, integrating the car collection into the family’s daily life while respecting its context.