The architectural project for Torri tal-Għallis was designed by Valentino Architects, a design-led architecture studio based in Valletta, Malta. Its retrofit proposal developed as part of a course module in the M.Arch degree at the University of Malta, led by Sandro Valentino with Sumaya Ben Saad, Nigel Borg, Matthew Farrugia, Luca Zarb, and Tara Žikić. The team joined with writer and curator Ann Dingli to bring GĦALLIS to Venice, positioning its design elements as prompts for exploration around heritage retrofit, introducing a new counter to a local cult of newbuild development. The team’s work on GĦALLIS presents an alternative approach to heritage preservation and the protection of historic assets, moving away from their conservation as relics and towards activating their evolving use.