Casino Notabile : it was meant to be exclusive

Abstract

Upon reaching the top part of the Saqqajja Hill, it is hard not to notice a particular, highly decorated building, perched above a former washhouse as if to welcome passers by to the ancient capital of Mdina and its suburb, Rabat. What this edifice lacks in size, it definitely makes up for in terms of its rich architectural quality, so typical of its Victorian age. An echo of the baroque architectural idiom that reigns within Mdina, the elaborate manifestations also recall the ongoing eclectic trends across Europe at the time, whereby architects borrowed several elements from different historic styles and portrayed them according to their own liking. This flamboyant pavilion is known as the Casino Notabile, the masterpiece of the British Civil Engineer, Mr. Webster Paulson. Together with his mentor, colleague and supervisor, the outstanding Emmanuel Luigi Galizia, Paulson was also responsible for several other notable 19th Century buildings within the local scene. The Casino Notabile's original intention of serving as an exclusive venue for the elite residents of Mdina changed with time. However little did Paulson know that not only would he not see the completion of his own magnum opus, but that it would also end up in its current derelict state. Embedded within its deteriorating fabric and within the memory of its dedicated members is a story that dates back to the building's significant origin. This dissertation seeks to chronicle the story of the Casino Notabile and cement its rightful place at the highest echelon of Maltese architecture.