For those familiar with the central town of Birkirkara, or who regularly drive through Naxxar Road, this iconic villa is sure to have caught their attention. For those with an appreciation for architecture, it’s bound to have captured the imagination too, piquing an interest in its unique shapes and modernist architectural style.

Ever drove past and wondered at its background? Or daydreamed about what it would look like from the inside, looking out? Well, thanks to these incredible rare photos by local photographer Samuel Ciantar, you can have a glimpse.

Built by a well-known building contractor in the ‘50s and ‘60s (whose sons owned the popular Vibes discotheque and also built the Smart Supermarket nearby), Villino Grech is a scheduled building, and despite its outward dilapidated state, remains an outstanding concrete structure which shines in its surroundings.

This remarkable photographic documentation shared by local creatives Te fit-Tazza tells a nostalgic story – the interior of Villino Grech is a breath-taking time capsule!

Notable features include “a banister that pays tribute to the Maltese rubble wall” and “open plan living room and kitchen area – again separated with a brilliant bit of skilled carpentry and design.”

And that’s not to mention what remains of some incredible mid-century furniture.

“You can never collect more timely pieces and group them in such a perfectly fitting space. Frankly, they just don’t make them like this anymore… and this place is like a frozen museum, untouched and abandoned,” writes Mark Strijbosch in the Te fit-Tazza feature – and looking at the photos for ourselves, we couldn’t agree more!

Check out the full feature, and Mark’s dreamy storytelling, here.