Preserving the antiporta: multimedia project
A multimedia project is drawing attention to a disappearing architectural feature of Maltese homes – the inner door known as antiporta.
Some houses, public entities and businesses still leave their front door open and the antiporta closed during the day, providing light and privacy but also accessibility to those on either side of this door. This feature is also known as boxxla in a number of localities, including Gozo and the Three Cities.
Chris Briffa Architects were invited to present a piece at the Time Space Existence exhibition as part of the Venice Architecture Biennale last year, and they decided to focus on the antiporta.
The company engaged six individuals with interests across various media to work on this project.
“The intention was to investigate this feature and the role it played in architecture, alongside analysing ways it still features − or does not feature − today,” said exhibition curator Andrew Borg Wirth.
“As a research endeavour, including a photographic and videographic installation, as well as a community outreach project, Antiporta sought to rekindle nostalgia for the piece and also make a case for its preservation,” he added.
“It has been a process...