This paper gives an overview of the present status of residential urban built form since the rebuilding of post-war Malta. It inter-relates various architectural aspects namely the main typologies, evolution of local building technology, housing policy, rent laws as well as the social dimension. An outline of ruling foreign influence on the aesthetic quality of today's historic edifices is given, also highlighting the transposition from farmhouse to townhouse to today's' terraced houses and residential blocks. An emphasis is also placed on the general built environment, proposing a general way forward for improving the thermal performance of the building envelope itself. Although seemingly limited to the physical aspect, however this paper does not stop at the envelope itself. Moreover it gives an overview of past attitudes versus modern trends towards acquiring property in Malta in the context of today's lifestyle and demographic changes, on the threshold of the 21^st century.