Anthony Cachia Castelletti, Ta' Xbiex
Strongest commitment towards Valletta (2)
The news that our capital will be restored to its former glory is most welcome indeed. Valletta, aptly referred to as a city built by gentlemen, for gentlemen, deserves the very best. The entrance to Valletta and the ruins of the Opera House will be receiving a well-deserved face-lift.
The Italian architect of international fame, Renzo Piano, who knows Valletta personally, has been commissioned to develop the two projects. Mr Piano's works of art are found all over the world. Browsing the internet, among his works are: the famous Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, France; the Aurora Palace in Sydney, Australia; the Kansai International Airport in Osaka; the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, USA and many more.
The government is committing itself to transform Valletta into a cultural and heritage centre of the Mediterranean to be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It is also planned to completely regenerate Valletta by 2018 when our city will be nominated the European Cultural Capital of the year.
It is hoped that Mr Piano will move away from the Egyptian style of his former plan for the entrance to our city and give the old opera house the emphasis on culture that it deserves, without minimising the importance of a new Parliament building.
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Joe Xuereb (London UK)
Dec 9th 2008, 01:38
The Opera House has gone the way of all material, whether by acts of war or natural catastrophes, or merely passage of time (like a newborn babe, it starts to get old from day one). Rebuilding an exact replica only partially feeds nostalgia if one's gullibility stretches to that. Leaving it as it is has some merit. It started and enjoyed a glorious history of live art and in ruins (with heinous demolitions after the war event) it is a glorious reminder of a horrendous war. The Opera House, a magnificent example of neo-classicism that in fact, could not be further removed from the Baroque if one tried, appeals to the Nation's sensitivity and desire to see something beautiful rise again from the ashes. This is likely no more than an understandable knee-jerk reaction to a painful episode in the island' history. Personally , and for the reasons cited, I would be quite happy to see it used for something in its present state or, if it has to be rebuilt, I would welcome a building reflecting the present and incorporating what remains of the old building. I have see examples of this all over Europe and beyond. It works.
John Meli
Dec 8th 2008, 15:51
Mr Piano's works of art found over the world, among his works are:famous Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris, France; Aurora Palace Sydney - Australia; Kansai International Airport (state of the art) Osaka, Japan; Whitney Museum, American Art in New York, USA, soon also d' Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp, France; Parisian landmark Centre Georges Pompidou; Berlin's Potsdamer Platz; New York Times building; Rome's Parco della Musica Auditorium; SO WHY NOT MALTA!!!!
and many more. It is good to note as an Italian architect and designer, apart from practical on-site activity with his father, an architect, his training took place in the office of Franco Albini (1958-64) and continued after his graduation from the Politecnico di Milano (1964), when he worked successively with Louis I. Kahn in Philadelphia and Z. S. Makowsky in London (1965-70). His scientific approach and pragmatic rigour was already apparent in the technological research of his first works: geometric structures generated through repetition of standard elements. Therefore, in my opinion by leaving out Mr Renzo Piano out could not have been the most stupid decision when other countries are so proud of works carried out by him, and all these are crowd pullers,"
lgalea
Dec 8th 2008, 09:51
Again, why a foreign architect?
Why one whose projects are all of a modern nature that does not blend in with the Valletta architecture?
How much money has already been paid to various architects for their plans for Valletta's entrance?
How about building everything as it was designed by the Knights who built Valletta?