Updated: Hagar Qim visitors' centre will have 'major visual impact'
(Heritage Malta comments added)
The Visitors’ Centre being built near Hagar Qim temples is an example of poor planning which will have a major, negative impact on the temples, the Labour spokesman on planning, Roderick Galdes, said today.
Referring to recent newspaper reports, Mr Galdes said the need for a visitors’ centre was not in doubt, but it was unacceptable that aesthetics “were not taken into consideration.
He regretted the fact that alternatives were discounted, and said MEPA and Heritage Malta needed to explain could they would mitigate the visual impact of this project.
In a reaction to this statement, Heritage Malta said that the project evolved over a number of years and the design, and design philosophy, being implemented were by architect Walter Hunziker of Berne, Switzerland. One of the fundamental characteristics of this design was that it made no attempt to copy the materials or forms of the megalithic remains, in order to underline the contrast between the permanence of the monuments and the ephemeral insertions of the present day.
Regarding the visual impact of the building, Heritage Malta said that no rock-cutting was permitted on site. Approval for some very minimal rock-cutting was obtained from the relevant authorities, in order to ensure that the building does not rise higher than the apparent horizon when observed from Ħaġar Qim.
The final design was therefore a careful balance between physical and visual impact. The building wasat its most visible when approaching the car park. To a viewer at Ħaġar Qim, the building had a much lower profile than the existing restaurant. As one began to proceed towards Mnajdra, the building disappeared completely from view.
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9 Comments
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Randolph Bugeja
Sep 2nd 2008, 20:12
Doesn't Roderick Galdes work at MEPA?
I'm not dismissing or agreeing with his claims.. but I find this sort of behaviour extremely unethical.
If he doesn't work there .. then I apologise upfront.
Franco Farrugia
Sep 2nd 2008, 19:41
What is everyone grumbling about? I have no doubt that the finished work will be excellent and in the national interest. After all, there are experts behind it, no? Not cowboys!
And St John's is next!
Ing John Bugeja
Sep 2nd 2008, 18:48
Exactly, the worst visual impact of the building is seen from the direction approaching the car park. So what? This happens to be the main road leading to the temples.
If the authorities, did not give permission to excavate underground not to make any damage to the temples, all that was required, was a rotary saw and some iron wedges.
B Sant
Sep 2nd 2008, 15:26
if MTA was involved in this with its environment credentials it would have automatically stopped the development- or not?
John Mizzi
Sep 2nd 2008, 15:07
Imagine if they did this stupid tent on top of Stonehenge! The world will fully protest for such stupidity!
We have the oldest temples and what do we do? We screw them up with our obsession for building! It should remain in its natural state!
Look at Ggantija it is surrounded by concrete with the blessing of the Gozo Ministry.
How damn stupid are we? When is the maltese government going to realize that tourists want a natural environment and not concrete!
No concrete structures at Dwejra!
No concrete airport at the temple sites of ta' Lambert!
And we want tourism? Tourism of the concrete jungle!
What a shame!
DVella
Sep 2nd 2008, 13:46
Of course the point everybody is missing is that a number of years ago an international competition was held to design a visitors' centre at this site but due to the typical procrastination of the responsible authorities, the opportunity to have an excellently designed and modern visitors and interpretation centre designed by an internationally known architect was missed . . . . together with the EU funding it was due to have received . . . ! Now instead we are going to get this behemoth!! A coup for lousy planning and insensitivity if there ever was one!
This should prove once and for all . . . and for the umpteenth time, the MEPA is totally incapable and its staff totally unqualified to deal with certain issues !! They can't even seem to sort out the planning side of things without buggering up disastrously on a regular basis !
Ing. John Bugeja
Sep 2nd 2008, 12:42
The surrounding area had just a few scattered low building, aesthetically well balanced and giving a sense of tranquillity. Now there is a vertical modern structure, it’s just horrible. Hope, when finished it will look slightly better. It should have been constructed underground.
s.bugeja
Sep 2nd 2008, 12:03
I would also suggest some use of plastic in the construction. I'm certain that when the centre is finished it will blend exactly with the temples to such an extent that the guides will need to point out to the tourists which is the modern building and which are the temples. Meanwhile, I'm dying to see the tents over the temples and I suggest they be made in the shape of a giant cherry symbolizing the one on the proverbial cake!!
George Mifsud
Sep 2nd 2008, 11:17
Please do not use the Malta Stone for this visitor centre - use concrete - aluminium and glass - it has to be ultra modern. Another suggestion is to make some glass dome over the site to protect from the harsh environment.
Congretulations to Heritage Malta for the Paola Hypogeum