Parallel Architects

Parallel Architects is an architecture and design studio that works between Milan and Malta. Its Maltese base is on Merchants Street in the heart of Valletta, a short walk from the capital's main sights, and it is listed in our directory of architects in Malta. The practice began in 2012 and works across residential, hospitality, commercial and adaptive reuse projects around the Mediterranean.

The studio's idea is that meaningful architecture emerges from a parallel dialogue between people, place, heritage and craft. Rather than chase a recognisable house style, it builds each project from its own context, with spatial precision, honest materials and a restrained architectural language.

Leadership and background

The practice is led by two architects. Edward Coppini is a Maltese architect, civil engineer and founding partner. A graduate of the University of Malta, he holds a bachelor's degree in architecture and civil engineering and a master's in architecture, and has been professionally warranted since 2010. Since co-founding the studio in 2012 he has led projects in Malta and Italy, and he is particularly interested in adaptive reuse. He oversees schemes from concept to completion, working closely with clients, consultants and craftspeople.

Elisa Fedeli is an Italian architect and partner with more than seventeen years of experience in residential, hospitality, commercial and mixed-use work in Malta and Italy. She trained at the University of Pavia, where she gained a master's degree in architecture and construction engineering, and joined the practice in 2015. She combines architecture with interior architecture, and she is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta. She has belonged to the Chamber of Architects and Civil Engineers, known in Maltese as the Kamra tal-Periti, since 2011.

Adaptive reuse and historic buildings

Adaptive reuse means giving an old building a new purpose without erasing its character, and it is the specialism that sets the studio apart. In Malta the opportunities are everywhere. Limestone townhouses, palazzi and old warehouses fill the streets described in our Valletta guide, and the city's past is explored in our guides to the Knights of Malta and to St John's Co-Cathedral.

The photographs on this page show the idea at work: a worn limestone ruin with traces of red plaster, a pale stone stair beside a curved column, and a crisp modern interior with walnut panelling and a curving bookcase. The studio works in historic environments and in contemporary developments alike, drawing on Italian design culture and international experience to suit the setting.

If you enjoy old stone, the walled city in our Mdina guide and the fortified harbour towns in our Three Cities guide show the same building traditions that a studio like this works with and around.

Residential, hospitality and commercial work

The studio's three main lines are residential, hospitality and commercial. For a UK client that could mean a restored home, a boutique venue or an office, and the interior architecture side of the practice means the inside is designed alongside the shell. The website gathers projects, awards, collaborations and press under separate headings, so you can browse its portfolio before getting in touch.

Having offices in both Valletta and Milan also suits clients whose plans straddle two countries. The partners have delivered projects in both Malta and Italy and keep a presence in each.

Planning a project from the UK

Most UK clients combine meetings with a short trip. Our guide to flights to Malta and the London Heathrow to Malta page help you plan the journey, and once you land, Merchants Street is easy to reach on foot from the main sights of Valletta.

If you are thinking of making the move permanent, read our Malta relocation guide and the overview in about Malta before you commit to a property project. Our list of things to do in Malta will help fill the rest of your visit.

To discuss your project, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the studio.