Louis A. Naudi, Msida
Piano not the right architect for Valletta
Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris
Judging by the pictures spread out on the centre pages of The Times in a recent issue, as well as the way the Centre Georges Pompidou looks in Paris (I saw it during my last visit there), Renzo Piano is not the right architect for our fortress city, Valletta. After all, did he not design a City Gate project in 1989 that was highly criticised and dropped? So why go to him again?
I do not see why our Nationalist government goes to Italian architects in such matters. Was it not a Nationalist government who engaged architect Bergonzo who gave us a Fascist City Gate that now the government wants to change? What is wrong with Maltese architects? Are we so hopeless to be left out completely and never asked? In my opinion, Maltese architects should first be asked for a design and only then should one decide whether to ask outsiders or not.
Furthermore, building Parliament instead of the Opera House is wrong. Our Opera House was one of the most beautiful in Europe, actually considered the second best. So why not build it as it was before it was bombed? (I can still see the German bomber flying on to Valletta from the Ħamrun side and dropping the bomb). Somewhere I read that the German government was willing to contribute financially to its rebuilding. No doubt a proper opera theatre (we do not have one in Malta) will help boost culture in Malta and our tourism as well. Abroad opera theatres are not in every town and village and so tourists would be more inclined to come to Malta to enjoy seeing an opera as well as our historic and archaeological heritage. When I was in Australia on a cruise liner about 600 disembarked to see II Pescatore di Perle at the opera house in Sydney. More and more cruise liners are coming to Malta every year, so let us give them all the more reason to do so.
Parliament should be housed in Fort St Elmo. It has ample room for offices and parking. Besides, it is highly historic making it more apt for a government seat.
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Joe Xuereb
Feb 15th 2009, 00:46
First things out of the way first. The ROYAL Opera House was fine but out of place. And why royal? Who was it built for? And by whom?
Tourists off cruise ships visiting the opera? If I remember rightly, and certainly at the old theatre, opera was offered to the public by visiting opera companies, Italian I imagine. Post-war the venue was The Radio City in Hamrun. These companies, of necessity seasonal, were on a par with travelling circuses. No truly big names. Opera stars, like star productions, do not come cheap.
Cruising tourists usually stop for two days at most. So any interest in going to the opera would have to coincide with the opera season. I can not begin to start to imagine the presentation in Malta of all year round opera.
I do not understand the logic behind 'Fort St. Elmo is historic therefore suitable as a seat of Parliament'. Parliament could be set up elsewhere, even on the site of the old theatre. Which in turn could be utilised in any number of ways. I think an opera theatre utilising one of the buildings along Pinto Wharf would suit the bill. Superb for Summer concerts.
Raymond Sammut
Feb 14th 2009, 22:21
@ Louis A. Naudi
Parking in St Elmo is clearly unacceptable. Due to noise and soot pollution, cars need to be kept away from historical buildings, not the other way around. Furthermore, Parliament need not be housed in an historical building. A Parliament House near City Gate (not necessarily on the Opera House site) would be feasible and worthy of consideration. Parliamentarians would set an example, and walk to Parliament House.
St Elmo, along with St Angelo, are sacred places. Enough to think of how many Knights, and how many Maltese (and Jewish) men and women, sacrificed their life in these forts for the land and beliefs they stood for. These forts need to be restored to their pristine form, and treated with the dignity they deserve. Only then we can showcase these forts to visitors with assertiveness and confidence.
John M. Grima
Feb 14th 2009, 21:04
There is ONLY one way to satisfy all the people of Malta and Gozo on the design of both the City Gate AND the Opera House. Build both projects using the very same, original blueprint. Period...............
By the way. would one be able to find the original blueprint in the library? If it is still available, look at how much euros it will save. There will be no need for Piano.
Phil Humphries
Feb 14th 2009, 17:49
Style and taste is subjective and classical and modern architectural styles can each be described as beautiful or ugly. However, I would venture to suggest that any project seeking to combine both styles are rarely harmonious or almost always unpopular.
In this case I think it is important to consider what it is that makes Valletta beautiful? If that beauty stems from its architectural style, then why would anyone other than a vandal or an egoist want to detract from that beauty by adding a modern construction? Or, put another way, if the Mona Lisa was to become damaged, then would the most acomplished of restorers be allowed to 'complement' that unique smile with a modern baseball cap, bold red lip gloss or a trendy tattoo ? I think not. Considered in those terms, then it I find it hard to disagree with anything that Mr Naudi says in his letter.
Robert attard
Feb 14th 2009, 16:33
Is it me or does the Centre Georges Pompidou look like it is still under construction.
Gerard Cassar
Feb 14th 2009, 15:44
The Pompidou centre does not attract vistors for its framework and architecture but for the activities inside the building. And by the way where it is built it contrast enormously with the surroundings.Were it's exterior to be changed people will still flock to its activities. The Louvre Museum does not attract visitors to contemplate the building, though the glass pyramid built in open ground and its spring staircase might, but for its contents- including La Vallette sword and dagger that belongs to Malta.
L..Galea
Feb 14th 2009, 14:40
Joseph Galea
A sham will be any building not built according to the rest of the buildings in the city.
Piano may have developed more since 30 years ago, but he could only have developed into the application of more modern concepts which are a blasphemy in Valletta, the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen.
The George Pompidou Centre is a clear example of a perpetual construction site.
Joseph, you seem to be one of the few who are the odd one outs in this case simply to support your government's arbitrary decision to appoint Renzo Piano instead of making an international call for submissions including from Maltese architects when the project is projected to cost not less than €80 million from our taxes with a hefty pay-package to the architect.
However, this will be another white elephant to distract the peoples attention from the dire situation which the Gonezipn's government has put them in.
J Farrugia
Thanks to Astrid's Vella negative attitude (according to you) and all those who opposed this project, OUR heritage was saved from the incompetence of Gonezipn, RCC and the rest of the Foundation members.
Emmanuel Marmara'
Feb 14th 2009, 14:03
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH MR.NAUDI....Mr.J.Farrugia I assure you that Mr.Naudi has NOT become an authority, and that goes for you too..You are only of of those very few who thinks the way YOU think. NO IT'S NOT SOMEONE WHO HAS TO DECIDE...IT'S A NATIONAL DECISION.. and I'm one of the VERY MANY who agree that MR.PIANO is not the right architect for OUR CITY.
dennis farrugia
Feb 14th 2009, 13:33
Isn't it plain to see? The government doesn't want a new city gate, it wants a new city gate designed by RENZO PIANO. No matter how inappropriate for our fortified city it will become famous because of its architect. That's all that matters to the powers that be.
Eric Soames
Feb 14th 2009, 12:04
J Farrugia: I believe if one is uncertain about a fact used in an argument, it shouldn't be introduced. Look it up if necessary. What struck me about your contribution wasn't the weird syntax, strange use of punctuation and upper case, but the tone. Sneering, at Mr Naudi's reasonable letter and rude at Astrid Vella and her 'likes'. You may not agree with preservationists and defenders of environmental issues but it is certainly not snobbish (two 'b's) to be one. Careful how you throw that negativity stone.
Joseph Galea
Feb 14th 2009, 11:41
The Centre Pompidou (by Piano & Rogers) was built some three decades ago. Does anyone think that Renzo Piano's architecture has not evolved over the past thirty years? The Centre Pompidou was controversial when it was built (just like the Tour Eiffel was) but today remains an icon of Paris where hundreds of thousands flock to see it. To keep harping about re-building something in the 21st century the way it was before the war demonstrates real insecurity.
Incidentally the Royal Opera House was certainly out of keeping with Valletta when it was built - and yet we pine after it now. I suspect that if the French Government decides to demolish the Centre Pompidou there would be riots in the streets of Paris.
Every building should reflect the spirit of the age when it is built (Zeitgeist!) Anything else would be a sham. This holds good whether it's designed by Renzo Piano or a local Architect. Piano just has stronger international credentials and is more likely to succeed.
J Farrugia
Feb 14th 2009, 10:27
Since when has the good Mr Naudi become an authority on whom we need as an architect for our city gate project. At the time of the knights when they were going to build St John's Cathedral in Valletta, there was blue murder about the person chosen as its architect. If it was fact or myth I do not know but the same is happening today, minus the murder but assasinating the character of Renzo Piano surely we are doing. I am no artist but I hear them say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if such beholders are pessimistic or have a negative attitude such as Astrid Vella then we will surely kill Piano's architecture. The Maltese nation throwing out the world renowned Piano, for what???? A competition has been held for designs of City Gate and the winner was Piano - I BELIEVE. Once again while accepting that 100 persons have a 100 opinions about how to design the former theatre site, SOMEONE HAS TO DECIDE and take the decisions and that is THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY. The Government accepts that it is not infallible.
Joseph Sammut
Feb 14th 2009, 10:13
@L. Naudi: while I totally agree with your argument re. choice of foreign architect, yet I feel that our local political maturity does not leave us any choice but to go for a foreign architect. Who would be chosen without all Malta giving it a political twist: I even say that we cannot even give it to our yound architectural students because as you know we have used university students politically thus spoiling virgin teritory so to speak.
Although this might be subjective, I also agree with you on Piano: at least we should have opened this to a number of reknown architects and then choose what best suites us, design wise and money wise.
At times I wonder why such elementary issues are bypassed.