The building's site originally consisted of terraced fields, which were incorporated into the garden of the nearby Villa St Ignatius in the early 19th century.
In the 1920s, the villa and its grounds were divided and sold off, and the first part of the former garden to be built up was Balluta Buildings.
The apartment block was constructed in 1928 for the Marquis John Scicluna, and it was designed by the architect Giuseppe Psaila.
The building's name is derived from the oak trees (Maltese: ballut) which grew in the area in front of it, that also gave the bay its name.

The building originally contained some of the largest and most luxurious apartments in Europe, and it became a prestigious address in Malta.
Due to rental laws, many of the tenants and their heirs kept the apartments for a small nominal rent.
Out of the twenty apartments, sixteen remain in the hands of the tenants' heirs, three have returned into the possession of the owners, and one was sold to a third party.
Some food outlets occupy shops at the buildings' street level.

The building remains intact and in relatively good condition, although it is in need of restoration.
It is scheduled as a Grade 1 monument, and it is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.
The building's site originally consisted of terraced fields, which were incorporated into the garden of the nearby Villa St Ignatius in the early 19th century. In the 1920s, the villa and its grounds were divided and sold off, and the first part of the former garden to be built up was Balluta Buildings. The apartment block was constructed in 1928 for the Marquis John Scicluna, and it was designed by the architect Giuseppe Psaila. The building's name is derived from the oak trees (Maltese: ballut) which grew in the area in front of it, that also gave the bay its name.
The building originally contained some of the largest and most luxurious apartments in Europe, and it became a prestigious address in Malta. Due to rental laws, many of the tenants and their heirs kept the apartments for a small nominal rent. Out of the twenty apartments, sixteen remain in the hands of the tenants' heirs, three have returned into the possession of the owners, and one was sold to a third party. Some food outlets occupy shops at the buildings' street level.
The building remains intact and in relatively good condition, although it is in need of restoration. It is scheduled as a Grade 1 monument, and it is listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands.
Balluta Buildings