Cotoner Block is enclosed by Triq il-Merkanti, Triq San Kristofru, Triq San Pawl and Triq San Duminku. It was one of the first affordable housing blocks in both Valletta and Malta and was built by Grand Master Nicola Cotoner. The rents from this site were to go to the Cotoner Foundation.

The building occupies an entire block and was built in 1664 on the site reserved for the building of the Auberge of England in the eventuality of the re-establishment of the English Langue. In the meantime, on the site there was a polverista which exploded on September 12, 1634, killing 20 persons. The block has a very orderly panelled façade with a rhythmical distribution of apertures. The façade is also subdivided vertically into two modules; one consists of a rectangular doorway, a circular window and a timber balcony and the other includes a doorway, two small windows and a timber balcony supported on decorated corbels. The extremities of the façade are defined by robust, decorated pilasters and timber balconies that wrap around the corners.

The building was hit during aerial bombardment World War II, but the block was reconstructed faithful to the original.

Mepa scheduled the Cotoner Block as a Grade 2 building of historic, architectural and contextual value as per Government Notice No. 276/08 in the Government Gazette dated March 28. According to Structure Plan policy UCO 7 for historic buildings minor internal alterations may be acceptable, while there is a presumption against alterations on the façades.