Cut-and-paste architecture

The quality of the design scheme present for St George's Square in Valletta is, quite frankly, disappointing, to say the least.

The night-views' artistic impressions convey a rather melancholic and bleak ambience not in tune with the significance of the square at the heart of our capital city. This proposed urban design scheme does not take into account the collective memory of the city and certain fundamental design principles upon which the city was founded.

The proposal suggests four disparate elements with no relationship between each other: a shallow pool with coloured water jets, two spindly looking tree-like solar lights, a zig-zag pedestrian bench and a metallic-grey litter bin. It appears to be a simple "cut-and-paste" design exercise.

I was also quite surprised to discover that the two tree-like luminaires are almost an identical replica of a recent public street lighting project in Vienna by the eminent designer Ross Lovegrove. Refer to the following internet link: www.inhabitat.com/2007/10/04/ross-lovegrove-solar-trees-take-to-the-streets-of-vienna.

Not only were they copied but they are totally out of context in Valletta. Whereas in Vienna, Mr Lovegrove designed these solar tree-lights as a linear sequence by having several of them lining up the pavement of a boulevard (please note, not a square) in the St George's Square proposal there are just two spindly ones. They look totally out of place and incompatible with the majestic backdrop of the Grand Master's Palace.

Even the zigzagging low benches are totally out of synch. There used to be stone benches all along the façade of the Grand Master's Palace and behind today's Sette Giugno monument (which incidentally was removed on Monday) until, sometime during the late 19th or early 20th century, they were arbitrarily removed by the British colonial authorities as they were being used as a resting place for beggars or the homeless. However, as originally conceived, they were an integral part of the design both of the palace and the square. Why not reconstruct them as they originally were?

Although the element of water is a positive aspect and is of historical relevance to Valletta, this has to be done in an elegant manner that does not detract from the existing De Rohan fountains and also the use of the square as a ceremonial parade ground. There are also practical issues to consider such as keeping the pool in tip-top condition, which is going to require constant maintenance and cleaning.

I personally feel that the scheme is disjointed and superficial.

St George's Square deserves to be treated with greater dignity and sophistication, with a design scheme that acknowledges the historic memory of the city. I am not advocating a historicist design approach but any modern-day scheme that is proposed should emanate from the historical genius locus of the city. Copying and importing "medusa-like" solar trees is just not on in the heart of Valletta. I do just hope that the dragon rears its head and is in time to burn this scheme before it is slain by St George.

An architect by profession, Dr Thake has authored several publications on Maltese architectural history including, together with the late Quentin Hughes, Malta - War and Peace, An Architectural Chronicle 1800-2000.