Staircases of Malta
Staircases of Malta is a celebration of the rich diversity of stairs and staircases in Malta. It spans the arc of
time from the megalithic temples of Ħagar Qim and Mnajdra, to the scenographic and theatrical Baroque
staircases of the palaces of the Order of St John, staircases in British colonialperiod buildings all the way
to contemporary moden staircases. The volume explores the different typologies, forms and architectural
styles of staircases within diverse settings from humble vernacular buildings, domestic architecture, public
buildings, and urban spaces. The book is the result of the collaborative efforts of Prof. Conrad Thake,
architect and architectural historian, and Dr Charles Paul Azzopardi, one of Malta’s most talented
photographers.
By way of introduction, Thake provides a lucid historical overview and architectural appreciation of
staircases well beyond the confines of Malta. This is followed by an extensive selection of over 185
inspirational monochrome black and white photographs of staircases in Malta. The photographs are
presented sequentially both according to a common theme and also, respecting a chronological
timeframe. The end section of the volume contains thumbnails of all the photographs accompanied by
concise historical notes and observations.
The book is being published in a limited edition, all in highquality, hardback format. It can be considered
to be a sequel to the highly successful volume, Portals of Valletta presented by the same authors and which
book is already outofprint and a collector’s item.