Din l-Art Helwa supports concept, has reservations on Parliament height

Renzo Piano's designs for the Valletta's Freedom Square, City Gate and the Opera House site have found the support of heritage group Din l-Art Helwa, which, however, expressed reservations on the proposed height of the Parliament buildings.

"With the entrance to Valletta still in a deplorable state and after more than 60 years of discussion, it is time to move forward," the organisation said adding that these key spaces should start to be enhanced without delay.

"The initial designs show sensitivity to the symbolic ideal that will be retained with the preservation of cultural space within the Opera House ruins. It is also in consonance with Valletta’s fortified status," it said.

Din l-Art Helwa expressed reservations on the height of the proposed Parliament buildings in Freedom Square, as they appeared to intrude upon the vision of the city from outside its walls.

It also said it would like to see the government commission a holistic design for the whole of the entrance to the city, fundamentally the area opposite Freedom Square stretching up to St. John’s Cavalier as well as the Bus Terminus area outside City Gate.

"Only in this way can the whole project be viewed in any future context."

It said that Valletta had much to gain from this project and it looked forward to its early implementation.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090627/local/revealed-the-new-face-of-valletta

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090627/local/the-new-city-gate-and-parliament

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090622/local/renzo-piano-interviewed

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090627/local/a-new-theatre-from-the-old-opera-house-ruins

The designs are available at:

www.opm.gov.mt/vallettaprojects