The Mallus house, located in the Santa Maria neighborhood, is a typical example of a private residence dating from the early 1900s. Built by wealthy landowners it was constructed using local techniques and materials: stones, mud bricks (ladiri), and fired bricks. The house has a wide elevation of simple and regular forms, interrupted by a portal for access to the courtyard and service areas and a small doorway to the two-story palattu dwelling. The design of the building is that of the typical Campidanese house where the distribution of rooms met the living and working needs of the family. It consists of a large central courtyard equipped with a well and cistern, partly paved, partly reserved for a garden and used for the performance of agricultural practices; it is overlooked by the rooms used for services such as the stable, warehouses, cellar, kitchen and dwelling. This one, with attention to architectural and decorative details, is spread over two floors. The ground floor consists of a large lolla, which can also be accessed directly from the street; it is overlooked by the inner rooms and the stairwell for access to the upper floor. Of particular interest are the rooms characterized by floors with polychrome cement tiles forming geometric decoration motifs, and the ceilings some of them made of wattle and daub, others painted with figures of angels, musical instruments and naturalistic elements. The repertoire of decorations, in addition to the Art Nouveau style characteristic of the early 20th century, has frequent references to classical, grotesque and neo-Renaissance motifs. The house underwent a restoration that respected its historical and architectural features.
