A time for decisiveness

The government's announcement that it has engaged Renzo Piano to design the Opera House site, Freedom Square and City Gate was welcome news.

The Prime Minister's evident determination to have the project completed within four years was even better news.

After decades of debates, raised expectations and false starts, many people I know are not particularly concerned whether the site is developed as a Parliament or a theatre - what really matters is that this six-decade-old 'wound' in our beloved capital city will finally be healed.

This is a view implied in press releases issued by Valletta Alive Foundation, Din L-Art Ħelwa and other organisations. The fact that the government has engaged one of the best architects worldwide is a reassurance that the site will be developed in a manner appropriate to its context and its historic and strategic significance.

Beyond the urgent need to have the site developed, I have no strong view either way.

On balance, however, I think the decision to have a parliament (together with other spaces to be used for culture) is the right one for three reasons. First, it will release the Grandmaster's Palace for culture and tourism use. The Palace has the potential to become an exceptional visitor and cultural attraction on par with St John's Co Cathedral.

Second, the development of a new theatre would make it increasingly difficult for other cultural venues in Valletta, particularly the Manoel Theatre and the Mediterranean Conference Centre, to operate in a financially viable manner.

This signifies more use of taxpayers' money, not only to operate a new state-of-the-art theatre on the old Opera House site, but also to sustain other important cultural facilities in Valletta. Third, Parliament is a symbol of our nation and as such I think it is appropriate that is located in this strategic location.

Many opinions expressed in this debate ignore the fact that, over and above a parliament, the site is also to include cultural spaces. The idea is to have these spaces accessible from Republic Street and Freedom Square, whereas Parliament would be accessible from the Auberge de Castille side.

Over the years, both Freedom Square and the Opera House site have been used for educational and cultural activities. Proximity to Malta's main pedestrian street is the location's main advantage. For activities requiring weather protection, organisers go into the extra expense to set up tent structures.

Even if successful in terms of visitor numbers, these various ad hoc activities, and the paraphernalia that come with them, make the area look even more shabby and visually unattractive.

The way the use of this area has evolved in the past could be a signal as to how part of the Opera House/Freedom Square site could be developed. There is a demand for both indoor and outdoor spaces where educational and cultural activities aimed at the wider public could be staged.

There needs to be a debate on how these cultural spaces could be used. One excellent idea mentioned is an outdoor theatre on Freedom Square, in line with the way the Opera House site is occasionally used now.

There is also the opportunity to integrate different cultural spaces; the indoor cultural spaces within the building on the Opera House site with the outdoor cultural spaces on Freedom Square.

These in turn could be integrated with the cultural uses of the Centre of Creativity and possibly lure some people from City Gate, to and across Freedom Square and into the centre.

Past experience on national projects show that indecisiveness or moving the goal posts is a recipe for failure. Any hint by the government that it is reconsidering the decision announced in early December could spell an end to the project.

Put differently, we would lose the opportunity to have this important site designed by one of the world's best architects. We would also have to put up with this urban 'wound' in our capital for another decade or two. More than anything else what is needed now is decisiveness by the government and a clear focus by everyone involved to ensure that the timeframes are met.

Mr Ebejer is an architect and urban planner, and chairman of the Building Industry Consultative Council.