Renzo Piano arrives on Sunday

Malcolm Buttigieg

Jan 24th 2009, 19:24

To me, it sounds more like Renzo Piani is coming over for a weekend than for a working visit!

philip pace

Jan 24th 2009, 09:56

Mr.Giusti,

What is good for other countries does not necessarliy mean that it is good for Valletta!
We are showing our views not because we don't want to move forward, far from it.
Anything that has to be built or rebuilt in Valletta has to be in perfect harmony with the surrounding. And thinking like that we are moving forward.
We don't need any ego grand design by Mr.Piano as we have enough top class architects who REALLY understand the needs of Valletta as they know the history ect.
We all would love to see our capital city restored to its former glory, thats all!
You are wrong in your assumption.

philip pace

Jan 24th 2009, 09:44

Here we go again trying to impress the citizens with the usual razzle and dazzle!
A simple question to the PM.
'You publicly stated that the funds for this project is to come out from public funds, which means that Gianni, Leli, Toni and myself shall be the 'only sponsors/contributors', then why is it that you are not listening to what we say and what we want?'
You were elected to serve us but since March you are constantly going against the grain as it looks to me that for you public opinion and expectations do count at all!
Somebody is insisting on this so that there would be the normal cash blessing (commissions)!

Heard a story which I wonder if it is true that way back in 1966/67 the British/ West German governments/entities were ready to give the then Maltese Government the necessary funds to rebuilt the ROH with the condition that the funds were solely for this project. The then Maltese Government flatly refused to abide with this condition as it thought that the money should be spent elsewhere, thus the ROH should have been rebuilt in the 1960s.
I wonder if this is true.

ray huber

Jan 23rd 2009, 18:17

I do not see how and why we should support any design by Architect Renzo Piano. I am more than sure that we have Maltese architects who could design buildings. The signature behind Renzo Piano does not mean any thing and we should not impress ourselves by such a name. As to the authorities I would like to ask; if the original theatre was not bombed by the Germans back in World War 2, should we now bring it down and change Valletta’s history?

In my opinion and many others is should be built as it was, at least on the outside, as no Renzo’s design will ever replace it!

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

Jan 23rd 2009, 16:38

Il-bierah gejt lura mil-Karibew u staghagibt kif hemm gharfu li jridu jsewwu, jirrestaraw sew bini kif ukoll ambjent antik. Tara f'Curacao wiehed mill-isbah portijiet fl-inhawi, fejn meta bini nharaq u waqa regghu bnewh biex l-ambjent izomm il-karatteristici tieghu. Hekk ghamlu s-setghat kolonjali meta ggarraf l-isptar tal-Ordni, issa Dar il-Mediterran, u bini iehor fil-bliet. Kieku ghamlu kif ipecilqu tal-klikka, kieku ghandna hafna toqob jew imbarazz tal-konkos. Bieb il-Belt jinhtieg ikun bieb Barokk biex ma jistonax mal-bqija tas-swar u jfejjaq ftit il-gerha li ilna nbghatu biha.

Eric Soames

Jan 23rd 2009, 15:20

I've commented before; a stubborn administration seemingly determined to shove their idea willy nilly down Malta's collective throat. Democracy by Diktat? Stand up people!

Pierre Giusti

Jan 23rd 2009, 14:59

What is it with everyone in this country??

Why doesn't anyone ever want to move forward? They all seem to want more of the old or just more of the same.

If Mr. Piano designs an extremely modern entrance to Valletta that would be fantastic! It would be up to us to completely renovate the rest of what's left of the "old" Valletta for it to then stand out in great contrast to the new entrance. The contrast would bring that much more attention and appreciation to the Valletta the knights had built an even enhance it's beauty by immediate visible differences..

This has been done in other cities and has worked wonderfully.

For all the travelling the Maltese do, it constantly amazes me that people here remain so narrow minded and unwilling to advance.

Go ahead Mr. Piano and show them what you can do!

The money paid to him before, if any, was only wasted because of the ignorance of our own people who want to keep living in yesteryear.

Charles DeMicoli

Jan 23rd 2009, 13:28

If I were a Maltese Architect, I would feel very disrespected and belittled.

Joseph Micallef

Jan 23rd 2009, 13:23

If I am not mistaken this man has already been paid a hefty sum for creating a project that does not suit Valletta at all. Is there going to be a repeat?

CE Agius

Jan 23rd 2009, 12:44

Welcome to Malta Mr Piano, but please take it piano ,piano, before you embark on some monstreous project which does not suit our CITY BUILT BY GENTLEMEN FOR GENTLEMEN. Go first the our National Library- have a look at some (1938 ) pictures of Valletta and then in your wisdom decide and judge for yourself if most of the Maltese people (those who REALLY treasure our heritage) - are against your briliant ideas. Your work might be appreciated in big countries where there are other monuments to make up for your dreams, but here in Malta, we don't have that much space to waste. So please, please mr Piano, piano, piano we don't want to have another lego entrance to our beutiful city VALLETTA. This project has been imposed by one or two out of the 400,000 tax paying citizens.
The 'Flimkien kollox possible' - ( Insieme tutto e' possible ) - is only a gimmick - if it were, we- the Maltese taxpayers should at least have a say. I cannot see how one person, whoever he may be, can decide for a whole nation. Only dictators act this way.

Marvin Mizzi

Jan 23rd 2009, 12:18

Welcome to Malta but if you want that when you come back the same welcome rememeber we want to be proud of our city do not leave us with a monster.So lets have something to be proud of definetly not parliament and build to compliment the city we do not want grotesque buildings!!!!

lgalea

Jan 23rd 2009, 11:43

Ian Waugh
Why not parliament Ian?

Gonzipn seems to be fond of theatrics, they do a lot of them theatrics in parliament, so the people may enjoy parliamentary theatrics.

Can we know who's back is being scratched now Gonzipn?

Why does our government always have to be a lackey to foreigners?

Ian Waugh

Jan 23rd 2009, 11:07

Getting a real feeling of deja vu here with this 'story'.

.... so 3,160 Facebook Group members ('No to House of Parliament instead of Opera House') ... 1000's in Malta and across Europe visiting www.maltoperahouse.com .... the next move .... is?

Time for Maltese theatre, creative, media and performing 'famous' to come out of the shadows and express support!

Come on Malta save this bomb site for performing arts ... stop the Opera House site turning to Parliament and bring theatre back as a robust, successful, famous Maltese 'national theatre' to be proud of.