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The Malta Book Centre is an ambitious cultural initiative by the National Book Council, designed as a contemporary literature house at the heart of Valletta. Housed within a historic 16th-century palazzo currently undergoing restoration, the Centre will serve as a dynamic hub for literature with the aim of fostering a vibrant literary ecosystem in Malta. It will feature an interactive book experience of an educational nature, a curated bookshop, a literary café, reading rooms, and versatile spaces for workshops and book launches.
Rooted in a vision of nurturing talent and celebrating Maltese literature, the Centre will provide a platform for creative exchange while preserving our literary heritage. Through a year-round programme of public events and activities which aim to elevate the local book industry and engage diverse audiences, the Centre will be a space for creative exchange and professional development.
More than just a space, the Malta Book Centre aspires to be a cultural landmark, ensuring that literature remains at the heart of Malta’s creative and intellectual life.
The Malta Book Centre is being housed in an old palazzo in the heart of Valletta, on Old Mint Street. The building is currently undergoing extensive renovations with a design for a multifunctional space that aims to introduce new life to the historic building as well as creating a new cultural centre in the capital city.
The building spans four levels, combining multiple functions, with a basement and a rooftop area. The basement is envisioned as an intimate reading space that also serves as a venue for smaller events and gatherings. On the ground floor, a bookshop, reception area, and café create a warm and informal setting around the building’s internal courtyard.
Ascending to the first floor, visitors will find an adaptable exhibition space hosting an interactive book experience, alongside the administrative offices of the National Book Council. The rooftop area is also being adapted into an events area, offering a unique panoramic view over Valletta.
Enhancing the building’s original character, a semi-transparent glass structure spans the internal façade from the ground floor to the rooftop, serving as both a striking architectural feature and a unifying element of the design.
The regeneration of 8, Old Mint Street stems from the need of giving to locals and visitors a space where to reconnect with literature and find intellectual inspiration and personal respite amid the fast pace of daily life.
Press: Times 2 – A new home for literature – August 9, 2023