International Experience, Local Expertise
Based in Malta since 2019, my work has spanned residential, hospitality, commercial and heritage projects at a variety of scales. As a warranted Perit, I am involved throughout the entire design and construction process, from concept development and planning submissions to technical detailing and site coordination.
Prior to relocating to Malta, professional experience was gained across Europe and Asia, contributing to projects ranging from private residences and interiors to large-scale mixed-use developments, cultural buildings and workplace environments. During this time, I worked with several internationally recognised practices, including Kengo Kuma & Associates in Tokyo.
Today, I continue to work as an Associate Architect at Chris Briffa Architects, one of Malta's leading architectural practices, contributing to the delivery of a diverse range of projects throughout the Maltese Islands. Alongside this role, I founded Merks Architecture, an independent studio focusing on residential architecture, hospitality projects, adaptive reuse and interior interventions.
The studio's work is driven by a particular interest in uncovering the latent qualities of existing buildings through carefully considered contemporary additions. Whether working with historic structures, interior renovations or new architectural interventions, each project seeks to establish a meaningful dialogue between context, material and contemporary living.
Drawing from experience in the Netherlands, Japan, China and Malta, my approach combines Dutch clarity and pragmatism, Japanese attention to detail and craftsmanship, and a deep appreciation for Malta's architectural heritage and vernacular building traditions.
concept to construction
Good architecture emerges from a careful balance between concept, material and craftsmanship. Design decisions are evaluated not only for their visual impact, but also for how they are experienced, detailed and ultimately constructed.
The objective is not simply to create buildings, but to guide clients through a clear and collaborative process that transforms ideas into carefully considered and buildable solutions.
Every project is unique and shaped by its own context, constraints, budget and users. Clients remain actively involved throughout the process, while ideas developed during the initial analysis and concept phases are explored, refined and tested through both physical and digital means.
By working with three-dimensional models from an early stage, clients are able to experience and understand a project long before construction begins. This allows informed decisions to be made with confidence, .establishing a clear and shared understanding of the project long before construction begins.
This collaborative approach is reinforced through an ongoing dialogue between client, architect and, where required, specialist consultants. The exchange of diverse perspectives and expertise often becomes the catalyst for thoughtful and unexpected solutions to the challenges presented by each project. The most rewarding collaborations are built on trust, curiosity and a shared desire to create something truly distinctive.
Whether working with an existing building or a new intervention, the ambition remains the same: to create meaningful and enduring spaces that respond sensitively to their surroundings while offering a carefully tailored spatial experience for their users.
Project Experience
The projects below reflect a body of work developed across multiple countries, cultures and project scales. From heritage buildings and private residences to workplace environments, cultural institutions and urban developments, each project demonstrates a commitment to thoughtful, context-driven architecture.
Highlighted are the projects that were commissioned directly to Leroy, others were developed in collaboration with architectural studios/employment.
residential
- extension of a rural farmhouse. Siggiewi, Malta. under construction
- a townhouse with three facades facing the street in Zejtun, Malta. under construction
- renovation of a three storey townhouse with a front garden. St Julian's, Malta. design phase
- private house with central courtyard. Melbourne, Australia. design phase
- semi underground villa with within a sloped cliff. Crete, Greece. design phase
- private residence at the edge of the desert. Bahrain. design phase
- an eight storey residence combined with art gallery. Guangzhou, China. under construction
- residence combined with childcare. Kyoto, Japan. design phase
- twin towers including retail base. Tongzhou, China. completed
- residence combined with art gallery. Uttar Pradesh, India. completed
hospitality
- regeneration of the Evans Building into a luxury hotel. Valletta, Malta. invited competition
- farm to fork eco hotel and restaurant. Marsaxlokk, Malta. under construction
- vernacular boutique hotel. Xaghra, Gozo. under construction
- regeneration of Jerma Palace Hotel. Marsaskala, Malta. winning competition entry
- restaurant integrated into a rock cliff. Xlendi, Gozo. design phase
- rehabilitation proposal for an orphanage. Fondazzjoni Sebh. Hamrun, Malta. design phase
- reusing an unfinished structure to house an elderly care home. Beijing, China. completed
- hospitality: transformation of a shopping center to kindergarten. Zhangjiagang, China. completed
commercial & workplace
- renovation of two abandoned tower structures. Beijing, China. completed
- office tower including retail strip. Jinan, China. completed
- commercial and residential mixed land use project. New Delhi, India. competition entry
cultural & public
- reimagining the Maltese Kiosk as an eco hub prototype. Various locations in Malta. design phase
- highway art installation. Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. competition entry
- rehabilitation and landscape masterplan. Blue Lagoon, Comino. design phase
- information centre, access to natural spring, and sleeping cabin. Iceland. competition entry
- light installation. Nouf AlMoneef Noor Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. competition entry
- ecotourism the reuse of a former pig farm. Comino, Malta. design phase
- art installation for the London Design Biennale. United Kingdom. competition entry
- Alvar Aalto museum extension. Jyväskylä, Finland. competition entry
- iconic gateway for the City of Ryde. Australia. competition entry
- facade design of a sport center. Changsha, China. completed
- concrete research and development pavilion. Shenzhen, China. design phase
- on-site workshop and designing of a Shakespearean theatre decor. New Delhi, India. completed
- University of Chicago Institute for Advanced Study. New Delhi, India. competition entry
- underground museum extension of Ordrupgaard art museum. Charlottenlund, Denmark. competition entry
- central library. Helsinki, Finland. competition entry
- interior refurbishment of the districts' police station. Heerlen, Netherlands. winning competition entry
Publications & Presentations
- detail in architectuur, paperback, isbn 9789012582490.
- inhabiting the space between necessity and burden, architecture and infrastructure intertwined.
- culture shock 'project symbioses' DAX Magazine.
- the district of tomorrow, Lessons in Sustainability, Cobouw.
- the district of tomorrow, the second building within the district, Architectuur.nl.
- wo tomaten in den kochtopf wachsen, Aachener Zeitung.
- guest speaker at PechaKucha 20 years anniversary about living in Japan, Casino Maltese. Valletta, Malta.
- guest speaker at the Great Rivers Congress about sustainability in architecture. Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
- guest speaker at the Energize the Future Congress about reusability in architecture. Tilburg, Netherlands.
Recognition
2008 - Winning design for the refurbishment of the districts' police station, Heerlen.