St John's CoCathedral expansion project unacceptable

Joachim Abela

Nov 22nd 2008, 02:51

I should emphasis here that the worst thing you can do with a historic building is to stop the course of its history! To wrap it up in bubble wrap and put it into a safe! Why? Because the result would be the degradation of the same history you are trying to protect! Historic buildings should be left to change and evolve with the course of time but not at the expense of other parts of their history as this also leads to the degradation of their history!

Joachim Abela

Nov 22nd 2008, 02:24

@ S. Cremona
Well...what I can say to you sir, is to go on Google images and type in "Louvre Museum" and see what you get. Hundred’s of photos almost all of which are of the pyramid! I mean…yes I agree….the Louvre is about the art inside but the contemporary extension is probably the only thing from the whole complex which we, as people of the 21st century, can relate to because it’s ‘our’ contribution.
Again, I am not saying that we should copy the French! I gave the extension of the Louvre as an example of a project, similar to what is being proposed for St John’s Square.

Joachim Abela

Nov 22nd 2008, 02:00

@ Peter Abela
Who ever said that we should place a copy of the Louvre glass pyramid in St' John's Square? First of all a copy is a step a way from reality.. a fake! Second of all I gave the extension of the Louvre as a relevant case study. A case study which exemplifies a modern subterranean space (whatever its form) in a very historic setting. The exact situation we're facing.

@ Steve Evans
If you want a British connection see what the British did with their world famous British Museum. They roofed over the central courtyard with a spectacular glass roof; a magnificent piece of architecture and engineering (a similar preposition was made for the courtyard adjacent St.John's). Whether you like it or not, this modern mark on the British museum continues the history of the building itself. The history of the this building did not stop in the 19th century, the century in which it was built, but it continued!

charles grech

Nov 17th 2008, 09:28

there is no need to dig in front of St John Co-cathedrale; instead the money should be used to re-build at the former opera house site to house the paralament and St Johns or the Knights of Malta Museum

David Mallia

Nov 17th 2008, 09:21

Joachim Abela, I agree with your comments, unfortunately, authorities leave me much perplexed on projects, have a look a hagar qim - and at Dwejra, Tigne.... a lot of words and no real results.... I wouldn't trust them with a driller in one of the most beautiful places I have yet to see, let alone such a huge project I'm pretty sure they will make some unforgiveable mistake along the way and find some excuse. Let us be jealous of what we have, because that is the only certainty we have.

peter abela

Nov 17th 2008, 08:09

Joachim Abela and J Borg
With all due respect you can't compare the vast square in front of the Louvre with St. John's Square. It's all a matter of dimensions. The Louvre pyramid and fountains around it, squeezed into St. John's square, would totally overshadow the cathedral itself! It's unique architectural features can only be fully appreciated if there is an open space in front of it. The main issue here should be-let's get our priorities right! Do we REALLY need this project? Do we have other URGENTLY needed works which we could have dedicated these funds to?

S. Cremona

Nov 17th 2008, 07:42

To Mr. J. Abela,
Do you think that i visited the Louvre because of the pyramid????
You must be joking! Pyramid or not, people go there to visit the treasures that are inside the Louvre.

Raymond Sammut

Nov 17th 2008, 01:49

@ Joachim Abela

No such thing as "Saint John's Museum". You started your argument on the wrong footing -- an erroneous argument that had already been tried 101 times.

Mgr Philip Calleja does not have, and no-one is in a position to give him, the authority to change our national historic Cathedral into a museum. This person has very truly and very clearly stepped beyond his charter, and should seriously re-consider his position in the Foundation.

It is entirely up to Dr Gonzi, as minister responsible for MEPA, to rescind the two proposals without any further anguish caused by this issue, and to apply a de novo and a holistic approach to the Saint John's artifacts, along with the issue of all historic sites on Malta and Gozo.

Dr Gonzi is being watched very carefully, not only by the Maltese on Malta, but by the Maltese everywhere, and by the international community that values historic treasures.

V . Brown

Nov 16th 2008, 23:56

What Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando is suggesting really makes sense . Leave the cathedral as it is and utilise the Main Guard and some adjoining buildings . In my opinion , when fort St. Elmo is restored it should be left that way and guided tours conducted at regular intervals

Steve Evans

Nov 16th 2008, 23:21

I think Joachim Abelas comments are interesting, but given the French connection with Malta through the French Wars is slightly ironic given that the French Connection with St John's iis debateable given that in1798, French troops were given instructions to loot Catholic churches in Valletta. Almost at the last minute treasures in the church were saved by the Maltese themselves through some very brave acts.. Much of the Maltese so called treasure was lost at the Battle of the Nile on board the L'Orient on the 1st August 1798, which saw two and a half years of Blockade against the French in Valletta , culminating in well? Maltese and British relations. The rest is as we all say is HISTORY.

James A. Tyrrell

Nov 16th 2008, 22:55

The solution to the problem has already been put forward by FAA amongst others and that is to make use of one of the nearby buildings which is in need of restoration. This would remove an eyesore and make a functional use of it whilst not putting the structural integrity of the Co-Cathedral at risk. Of course this would not provide the same level of profits for the money hungry developers. As for JPO having the right idea, lets not forget who originally brought this matter to light. It certainly wasn’t JPO who has simply jumped on the bandwagon for the sake of his own political survival.

J. Borg

Nov 16th 2008, 22:05

An alternative....
remove the restaurant tables from the square
dig up the square if need be
copy the French by placing a glass pyramid with some water fountains around
or some budding architect comes up with a creative design

Joachim Abela

Nov 16th 2008, 22:01

(cont)….The Parisian authorities were not afraid to leave a 20th century mark on the historic palace. They did not wrap the palace in bubble wrap and say hands off! Their courage resulted in one of the most visited monuments in the world! Does all this ring a bell!
If the expansion of the co Cathedral museum is designed well, possibly even by organizing an international design competition, and executed well i.e by not posing any structural damage to the co Cathedral, I think the project will prove to be a successful one. Why be afraid of change and of new things. This may even be an opportunity to introduce a beautiful modern piece of architecture in Valletta!

Joachim Abela

Nov 16th 2008, 21:59

The St John’s Museum is facing the problem of restricted exhibition space. This is not the first time that a museum faced a similar problem. A case in point is the Louvre Museum. Two decades ego the Louvre Museum in Paris, which is housed in one of the most historic buildings in France, faced problems of accessibility and lack of exhibition space. What the museum foundation did was to dig up the whole piazza in front of the Louvre’s entrance and built an underground foyer and more exhibition space for the museum. Not only that! But on top they commissioned and built one of the most iconic, contemporary and famous structures in the world: The Louvre Glass Pyramid.
This project proved to be highly controversial, probably the most controversial in Paris’ architectural history. But the expansion project of this historic palace proved to be a very successful one! This was because it was designed and executed well! Whether people liked it or not, the modern extension of the Louvre proved to be a CONTINUATION of the Palace’s history and the project ENHANCED not diminished the history of the Louvre! …..(cont)

Kevin Borg

Nov 16th 2008, 20:51

This time JPO is definitely right.

Fort St.Elmo is a national disgrace. If only one reads the accounts of the Siege of 1565 he should feel ashamed that we have left a place where hundreds gave their life to defend our country fall into such pitiful state. We should give more attention to Fort St.Elmo and make better use of the place.

However we should also find a solution for the Cathedral’s problem of space for exhibiting all the artefacts it possess. When I was a student we had carried out a study of the cappella ardente that used to be set up when an archbishop died. The state of this unique artefact and others stored in places were temperature is not controlled is fast deteriorating these items. Some of these items are unique and if lost they can never be replaced. A campaign should be organized to expose more these items to the man on the street and make all realise what artistical jewels this country possess. We are not doing enough, although one has to say that lately the mood has been changing but we still have a long way to go.

Anne Marie Kissaun

Nov 16th 2008, 20:45

I can not believe that St. John 's Co. Cathedral is still being put under so much pressure. Have the people involved not read enough articles against this crazy suggestion. So, let go, and as suggested, this money should be used for other historical buildings i.e. St. Elmo, St. Angelo and Ricasoli.

mario borg

Nov 16th 2008, 19:51

This is unbelievable. St John `s cathedral is a jewel of architecture. No developments whatsoever should be done inside or outside of the building. I totally agree with JPO. The money for such project should go to deteriorating historic sites such as st Elmo.
Sometimes some things are so illogical.

philip pace

Nov 16th 2008, 19:43

I agree completely with Mr.Steve Evans.
St.John's Cathedral is a jewel and should left that way.
It belongs to the people of Malta and no one should be allowed to do anything with it as they do not have any authority.
The Committee is there to over see it and nothing else.
The money should be used to restore St.Elmo, St.Angelo and Ricasoli. All these three together have got more history than St>John.

James A. Tyrrell

Nov 16th 2008, 18:21

If it was proposed to carry out such work on any building in any location in Malta whether the building in question had any historical significance or not people would be up in arms against it.

The fact that the location in question is the islands capital Valletta and that the building in question is undoubtedly the most historically important building in that city, the foundation must understand why the people are against it’s proposals.

This building does not belong to the foundation to do with as they wish it belongs to the people of Malta and must be protected for the generations to come. No matter how well intentioned the foundation is in their proposal they need to admit that on this occasion as has happened on occasions in the past, they have got it wrong.

lgalea

Nov 16th 2008, 17:47

s.bugeja
Agree with you.
Can those involved in the project declare that they have NO PERSONAL INTEREST, either directly or indirectly in the project?

Joe Zahra

Nov 16th 2008, 17:13

Here we go again more talk and nothing gets done.I just came back from a vacation in Eurpope.Austria Germany and Check.Rebublic.Everywhere I went everything is restored and beutifull with thousands of people visiting every day.Even Nuremburg which was ninty percent destroyed during the war is restored.I come to Malta and everything is falling apart.Cemetries,bastions churces and old temples which there is none like them in the world.Malta is rich in history but it;s not taken care of.Shame

Henry Galea Souchet

Nov 16th 2008, 17:10

Please .... Hands off St John's Co-Cathedral !!

Steve Evans

Nov 16th 2008, 16:40

Surely its common sense to all with any sense of purpose to see the incoveniance and no doubt the odd mistake that this would cause with its construction. The serious state of St Elmo,St Angelo and Ricasoli should be given prime importance at the moment and money WELL spent! After all the forts were built by Gods army to keep the Infadel out, something that seems to be well overlooked at the moment.

s.bugeja

Nov 16th 2008, 16:24

Why this fanatical obsession to dig a quarry infront of the most precius building on the Maltese islands? Even if one wanted, one cannot help thinking that there is more than meets the eye in this proposed venture.