Chamber of Architects backs Piano return to City Gate project
The Chamber of Architects (Kamra tal-Periti) said today that it commends and supports the government’s decision to proceed with the City Gate project and the choice of Renzo Piano as architect. It also urged the government to consider the status of the Guidelines for the Regeneration of Valletta drawn up by Mr Piano himself in his previous commission.
The Chamber said that in normal circumstances it would have insisted that the design for this project be the subject of an international competition. However this was no normal situation.
"Indeed, the government‘s decision to re-initiate the project has brought about the unexpected opportunity, 20 years later, to renew its commitment to an architect whose commission was suspended once the project was shelved. After more than forty years, the community has the right to expect a fitting completion to the gateway to our capital city."
The chamber said that Mr Piano had, throughout his career, built up experiences that were relevant to this commission. He had developed a reputation for being a master of the art of listening and was an excellent communicator of both process and intention.
"The decision here is not one about whether the selected architect should be Maltese or foreign. On the other hand, this is about the search for that gesture that could leave a tangible and lasting impact on the quality of our built environment and to serve the aspirations of our nation. It also needs the contribution of the best in the world to challenge local talent and be a source of inspiration for the students of architecture who will continue to build the future of Malta.
The Chamber said there were several other challenges ahead, in particular the urban issues for what was now an extended scope and site area and the intended use, presumably the subject of a Development Brief that had yet to be prepared. Furthermore, the need for structured public participation in the design process was evident.
It reiterated its call for the establishment of a Design Review Commission, an internationally recognised practice, particularly within the European Union, providing a concerted effort at ensuring the highest design quality of public projects.
"The Chamber believes that this project presents an excellent opportunity to catalyse the setting up of this Commission."
18 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
D Vella
Dec 5th 2008, 11:22
Good to see that the Chamber had the guts to stick its neck out on this issue. Before the rabble of self-appointed critics begin their hysterical ego-nostalgia trip again, whining about the inappropriateness of modern architecture in a 'Baroque city' and ranting on about how Barry's opera house and the original gate should be re-built, they really should inform themselves before speaking out. Valletta's original gate was little more than a narrow featureless 'sally port', Barry's neo-classical interventions in both the Opera House and the Gate were just typical colonial impositions in the Neo-Classical (not Baroque) idiom that was 'in fashion' amongst the British aristocracy then! If these self-appointed 'professors' were around back then they would have crucified Barry! In any event, Barry's era is long gone, as is that of the Knights and they both left their imprints on the architectural calendar. Any intervention now should appropriately reflect our era, our culture and aspirations as theirs did then. We must avoid getting bogged down in sad retrospective nostalgia which reflects a patholigical fear of change and progress. Any attempt to re-create the past will result in no more than a pathetic, fake copy. Much like a carnival mask.
Conrad Thake
Dec 4th 2008, 21:22
After 60 long years of disucssions and endless cyclical debates it is time to "bite the bullet" and heal the World War II scare in our capital city. Renzo Piano is one of the world's most accomplished architects and he will certainly rise to the occasion. the last major architectural intervention in Valletta dates back to the time of Edward Middleton Barry (the Opera House) and William Scamp (the Anglican Cathedral) ---- more than 150 years ago.
Valletta like any historic city should also have a vision for the future. It is in need of an iconic building that becomes a point of reference for present and future generations, whilst at the same time respecting the "genius locus" of the historic city.
In my view, what is important is to ensure that besides the parliament function there should also be a major magnet for locals and visitors alike to appreciate Valletta. It should be an interactive building that is alive and is in synergy with the urban surroundings.
If it was a world famous opera conductor or heart surgeon, we would have blind trust in his/her abilities, but with Piano there are over 400, 000 critics!
adrian galea
Dec 4th 2008, 20:24
if La Vallette had to consult everyone and gain agreement from everyone, we would still be looking at Mount Xeberras.
Clearly, some people will always be unhappy whatever is decided.
It is a clear case requirring leadership by the government. Successive governments failed to deal with a national shame at the entrance of our city. Whichever government takes the bull by the horns will need leadership and resolve of steel.
It appears like most constituted bodies are in favour of this, which is a start.
A debate will always be necessary, but a neverending debate which grinds to a halt like 20 years ago is simply not on at the moment.
Malta deserves better.
So far i have not seen anything in principle to start shooting down the whole project. Ilook forward to more information very soon.
lgalea
Dec 4th 2008, 16:40
Pierre Agius
I know who he is.
He may be great for modern projects, but if I remember correctly his plans did not do justice to our Capital City with their modernism.
I do agree with you that City Gate made by a PN government in the sixties is shameful and did not blend with the rest of the city.
Eric Soames
Dec 4th 2008, 14:34
It seems to me that most objections expressed are to the fact that:
a) nobody knows what the finished project is really going to look like.
b) the decision has been unilateral by a government with a wafer-thin majority yet will effect the whole country for the foreseeable future.
Daniel Russell
Dec 4th 2008, 14:32
Further to my earlier comment, surely as Lawrence Gonzi said that the project would be the subject of a bid for EU funding, a full compettititive tender would have to be undertaken as the project is over £6Million and notices would have to appear in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) and the services of the architect procured through the procedure laid herein. They could not just go and appoint someone "willy-nilly" as this is against EU procurement rules and would constitute a restrictive practice.
I assume that the Government have complied with OJEU in their new tender for this regeneration project?
Marc Cassar
Dec 4th 2008, 14:29
@Pierre Aguis.
Correction -
1) Renzo Paino will not be erecting the building - he is an architect and not a builder.
2) We are lucky??? any architect will do a design if you pay him. Is Piano doing it for free?
3) We are part of 450,000 people, and a large number do not think it should become an exclusive location for more Govt. uses. Why can the General Public have access to this part of our culture?
4) you must be a Achitect - as you make yourself sound as a "Holy One" - so much so, you place Architects in 3rd place behind politicians and professors. - LOL.
Take the decission to the people - call a referendum!!!
laurence schembri
Dec 4th 2008, 14:21
So it`s OK then. If the Chamber of Architects (which to my mind ruined the Maltese Architecture in the past fifty years) agrees with the Enzo Piano project, public opinion doesn`t count, and the Capital remains without an Opera House. We are unique!
Pierre Agius
Dec 4th 2008, 14:16
There is wisdom in the views expressed by the Chamber of Architects. Well considered and well stated.
@Igalea - Clearly you do not know who Renzo Piano is. Indeed our Valletta would be very lucky to have buildings erected by him.
If there is one single site in Malta which is truly horrific it is citygate. It recalls more feelings of some African city entrance than European. It is dirty and an insult to the elegance and history of Valletta.
As a Maltese I am truly ashamed of the state of City Gate - it personifies our lack of confidence in our culture and all that is Maltese.
Final comment to the Government. In Malta there are 450 000 politicians, 450 000 professors, 450 000 architects! Possibly this is why we never get things done. I am starting to think that we have lost the DNA of our ancestors, of the brave Maltese who made history in 1565 and more recently in WWII. We have become a nation of obese, grumpy, old ladies!
Corinne Vella
Dec 4th 2008, 14:14
IGalea: If Maltese architects are competent, then this is a competent decision. It seems to me that the Chamber of Architects recognises that parochialism is not the best measure of competence.
Daniel Russell
Dec 4th 2008, 14:01
@Micheal Pace
Micheal, that is why I and others in the Times discussion have reccomended that the best solution would be for a Maltese architect to design and progress the regeneration project and I am amazed that the Government would not select a local architect for their (and your) own state capitol.
You refer to past buildings and I agree that in lots of cases, architects are foreign or not aware of the local context and in terms of regeneration, this is why lots of schemes have failed as they have not been compatible with culture or townscape or as you say have built in flaws.
If Renzo is successful, he should spend more than 1 day in Malta and I would be as appalled as you if that is true.
Come on Malta Government, lets make the new development a showpiece for the Maltese and many visiors to be proud of.
Scerri S
Dec 4th 2008, 13:54
In my opinion City Gate should lead to the centre of the original Square, not to the edge of half of what's left of it (a.k.a. Freedom Square).
dusty william
Dec 4th 2008, 13:48
Ejja Gonz halli tifthu lejlet l-elezzjoni li jmiss forsi terga tlaqqata.
lgalea
Dec 4th 2008, 13:22
So the Chamber of Architects does not even believe in its own members being competent enough for the project.
In that case, no wonder we have been constantly seeing the rape of the Maltese environment.
This does not in any way detract from my opinion that this is another grandiose project to alienate the people from the budget burden imposed by the Gonzipn and that a competition between Maltese architects should be held if the project is still to go ahead.
Manuel Mifsud
Dec 4th 2008, 13:02
Something tells me that this time round the government will proceed with the City Gate project.
I agree with the Chamber of Architects that the community expects a fitting complettion to the Gateway to our Capital City.
Michael Pace
Dec 4th 2008, 13:01
When the Royal Opera House was built in the 19c the (English) architect designed it without ever visiting Malta. He didn´t even know the area was on rising ground!
I heard (I hope I was wrongly informed) that, when preparing his project for Valletta years ago, Enzo Piano visited Malta for just one day. So it was no surprise when he came up with a project which looked like an Italian medieval city (how about publishing photos of that project?)
It's always dangerous to choose the architect before seeing the project. Why not a competition? Why buy a pig in a poke? The people who accepted the city-gate project ruined Valletta for decades. Whoever approved the building of the monster characterless Mount Carmel basilica or the law courts with their Greek classical entrance without marble and majesty and appropriate surroundings and helped further ruin the character of our beautiful city must have lived anywhere but in Valletta,
So does Enzo Piano, and so did the - better forgotten - architect of the Royal Opera House.
Help!
P.Scicluna
Dec 4th 2008, 12:59
I cannot understand. it seems that our goverment is not feeling the crunch by spending €80,000,000 for an institution that the majority lost faith in. Priorities are not right. We are talking about St.Elmo, St.John museuim, from where we are going to get all these monies. Capital expandeture is not a problem but the up keep is. Case in point is Mater dei. An idea to be considered which cost much less and we can have all of these. Parlament will move to St Elmo a beautifull place with its own car park, sea fresh our , which will help our MP's to think clear, Courts to opera house site and St John to Court house. With this we regenerated buildings that badly needed a face lift and every one happy wioth less.What you think Astrid ?
A Bezzina
Dec 4th 2008, 12:42
can the gov or the art give us a hint how it is going to be like a picture or a 3D diagram so we the citiziens, can judge or even give our opinions