Wednesday, 1st July 2009

Valletta's World Heritage Site status

Stephen Vassallo, Xewkija

Dresden, in Germany, was last week stripped of its status as a World Heritage Site because of the four-lane bridge built over the river Elbe. Is there any danger that the Renzo Piano modifications to the entrance of Valletta might threaten its very prestigious status as a World Heritage Site?

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Sunday, November 22, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

O. Sant Angelo (on 2/7/09)

@CV Thanks. Looks like the project has Unesco's blessing too then. @JG For lack of clarification, I'd say it's just as amazing as the individuals who manage to comment without saying anything.

Joseph Galea (on 1/7/09)

It really is amazing how the individuals who apparently know the least about anything are the most vociferous about everything!

Corinne Vella (on 1/7/09)

This is from UNESCO's portal. The last line mentions Valletta. Why would UNESCO strike Valletta off its list because of Renzo Piano, in defiance of its own standards?

http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=8324&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

Renzo Piano is one of the most ingenious architects of his generation. Mr Piano's lifelong work of restoring and rebuilding historical sites of great importance for humanity's cultural heritage has been outstanding. He designed some of the world's most avant-garde architectural structures such as the Parisian landmark Georges Pompidou Center and the Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan.

He has won numerous international prizes and distinctions in this field and his work features in many books and films. Renzo Piano's restoration campaign of historical sites includes the ancient city of Rhodes, the city of La Valleta in Malta and the historical centre of Genoa.

Carmel Pule' (on 1/7/09)

It occured to me that all this nostalgia about retaining the old Valletta Style, is it not a case of longing for a place no one wants to move back to! but like to visit on occassions?

O. Sant Angelo (on 1/7/09)

Mr. Vassallo's fear may be quite justified as there is a major parallel. From Bloomberg: "Unesco describes the Elbe Valley as an outstanding cultural landscape, an ensemble that integrates the celebrated baroque setting... and said in a press release that the bridge meant the site failed to keep its outstanding universal value."

@DCG, JM, CV
So regardless of your personal opinions, what does UNESCO actually say about Mr. Piano's plans?

George Pace (on 1/7/09)

Breathe easily again Mr. Vassallo. The ''modifications'' will enhance the status.

r sammut (on 1/7/09)

Another nut to crack for MEPA, the said project has still to pass their scrutinizing? I mean even shop signs have to be upped as MEPA requisites. Renzo Piano show off masterpiece does sticks out from the surroundings architecture in our World Class Heritage. Let it not remotely resemble any glass tower at the Birgu water front!

Corinne Vella (on 1/7/09)

L Galea: The inclusion of Valletta on the World Heritage list overlooked the current mess that is city gate. Why would an improved design diminish the city's status? You're not seriously suggesting that UNESCO would remove Valletta from its list because of a design by one of its cultural ambassadors?

J Martinelli (on 1/7/09)

Did it ever dawn on Galea L, that had the Barry Opera House still stood as it was before being bombed, due to its architecture being foreign to the rest of the city's character, Valletta would not have been designated as a World Heritage site, to begin with?

I find that the City Gate and the proposed buildings quite austere externally, purposely to reflect the characteristics of nearby St. James Cavalier thus blending with rather than conflicting with Valletta's architecture.

ray mangion (on 1/7/09)

When it is too late we will find out if Valletta will still have its rightful place as a Heritage City.
Time will tell, but having seen the plans, there is a very strong possibility that Valletta will be struck off. My Dissertation on Valletta as a World Heritage City will be worth much more!!!

Galea. L (on 1/7/09)

Totally agree.
The Valletta project is not only pure blasphemy as it does not blend with the rest of the city, but it may also result in its world heritage status being withdrawn.
Pianos designs make sense in a modern city, but certainly not in Valletta.

Daphne Caruana Galizia (on 1/7/09)

Not unless the people who decide these things at UNESCO are so architecturally illiterate as to compare a four-lane bridge with a Renzo Piano building.

Anne Marie Kissaun (on 1/7/09)

I do agree with Mr. Stephen Vassallo's observation. I can not understand why we can not get things right. We did not have to spend so much money to get somebody to give us ideas. All we needed to do is to refer to one of our Historical publications and see what the Opera House was all about as by now we should all well know. Again I say, Parliament House should not be at the entrance of Valletta, the square should be planned on the idea of St. George's Square in tune with the Opera House. PLEASE KEEP VALLETTA AS WHAT IT IS KNOWN AS, A WORLD HERITAGE CITY.

Valletta's World Heritage Site status

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