Thursday, 2nd July 2009
Rebirth or ruin in the city of Valletta? (2)
The other morning I made it a must to go to the Museum of Archaeology to view first hand that which the famous architect Renzo Piano is proposing for our beloved City of Valletta.
I wanted to go as soon as possible in order to be in a position to personally weigh the numerous contributions which will inevitably be made in the coming days and weeks.
From the onset I would like to state that I do not consider myself to be in any way artistic or knowledgeable when it comes to architecture modern or otherwise, notwithstanding, as a Maltese citizen who frequents our city on a daily basis, I feel I do not only have the right but feel obliged to air my views on the subject.
The two main problems which have always troubled me, and most probably the majority of the Maltese, were City Gate itself and the Royal Opera House ruins.
A solution to these two has been the talk of the town for over 60 years and now it seems Sig. Piano has come up with one.
Easy. City Gate? Do away with it all together. See the problem does not exist anymore. First problem solved.
Royal Opera House ruins? That's easy too. See where the rest of the ruins are and bring them on site for everyone to see and admire. Second problem solved.
The only difference between that which will remain for Sig. Piano and me is only the fact that Sig. Piano will leave Malta while watching his bank balance grow and I (together with all the Maltese citizens) have to live with the (non) solutions this genius of an architect has so masterfully brought to Valletta.
Unfortunately, for me, my dissatisfaction with the whole project does not end there.
Sig. Piano's project also proposes, amongst other changes, the narrowing of the entrance into Valletta to a width of approximately eight metres (no one seems to know the exact width).
I don't know if Sig. Piano has ever been to Valletta during the day on weekdays. The bridge at present in existence caters for thousands of commuters going in and out of Valletta.
I can assure him that an eight-metre walkway will not suffice; it will only render the passage of those who wish to enter a magnificent city very unpleasant and a feeling of congestion, even before they actually set foot inside.
This not to mention the other fact that doing away with the "City Gate" will rob our City of another entrance which today exists from on top of the present gate.
It is true that the Parliament building and other ancillary offices will at last free the President's Palace from housing the Parliament Chamber, thus restoring it fully to serve only as the formal office of the President, albeit it will also screen St James' Cavalier.
A feature which, in my opinion, not even Sig. Piano in all his brilliance can recreate.
I will not resort, as others have done, to calling Sig. Renzo Piano's work as "a hodgepodge of tents, greenhouses and scaffolding" but only pray that we Maltese and more so the Maltese government once and for all shed this inferiority complex and have the self belief that our architects are better suited to understand that which our Belt Valletta really deserves.
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Comments
The original theatre was a masterpiece - beautiful and attractive building and it would be wise to reproduce the same gem.
What will happen with a bridge just a fraction of the present width?
This knack of using the "we" and "us" is uncalled for and to say the least presumptuous.
On a one to one basis I totally disagree with your views so that, at least, makes it 50% in favour and 50% against unless you feel you are entitled to a larger share of the per centum.
Re-build City Gate and the Opera House as its original plans as this is
what our beautiful Valletta needs, nothing modern fits Valletta, it will only
be an eyesore, then it will be too late!!!!!
No one came up with the proposal ? Again simple. Its simply a non-proposal, but it seems that coming from someone (famous) who will get paid handsomely, its seen as a brilliant idea.
As for the width of the walkway, time will tell, I can assure you, I will be the one who will be saying “I told you so”.
the obsession with "modernism' is best understood in the light of an ideological onslaught on aesthetics, tradition, culture and ultimately civilisation. Modern Architecture is the physical dimension of doctrinaire liberalism and serves to remind us peasants of our place - unenlightened, bigoted and narrow minded. It is a monument to the elite and a tribute to their success in dismantling all we held to be good and true. Becuase It is they who know better, they are open minded you see - so open minded in fact, that their brains fell out in the process.
It would have been better had you dropped your inference that because Piano is foreign his designs are better for Malta. This is not to demerit him for his plans for other cities and places.
I have said it and will say it again.
Piano's designs are good for a modern city, maybe brilliant, but they are a total blasphemy in an old fortified city.
"City Gate? Do away with it all together. See the problem does not exist anymore. First problem solved"
"Royal Opera House ruins? That's easy too. See where the rest of the ruins are and bring them on site for everyone to see and admire"
I would like to think that your tongue was firmly embedded in your cheek when you came up with the above remarks, , - Simple you said, so let me ask you one question, -how come in over 60 years no one thought of making such a simple proposal?
Renzo Piano did come to Malta on more than one occasion and he observed the goings on in Valletta and which invariably influenced his designs.
As to the width of the restored bridge being too narrow - surely since you visit daily you must have noticed that frequently the present width is severely curtailed by karrozzini, taxis and all forms of vendors.
Yes, indeed we should have faith in our Maltese architects but how much more should we trust Piano's judgments after having designed world famous structures let alone winning prestigious awards from across the globe?
We should drop our island mentality!
The fact remains, it was a very beautiful and majestic building.
Whether the previous Gate was built by the Brits or by whomever, the fact remains that it was a beautiful Gate. The present is ugly or uglier than that.
Your comment gives the impression that you are an authority in architecture, unlike me who you have branded a fool. Why not contribute and give us your ideas on the matter instead of resorting to calling others names. Who should be called and is a fool we leave for others to decide.
Now that the Island's population has grown to 400,000, it would be interesting to read more readers' views as to how this Entrance (with no gate!) would cater for mass celebrations , such as Carnival, political and trade union rallies, religious manifestations, etc;.
"Unfortunately, for me, my dissatisfaction with the whole project does not end there."
Unfortunately for us, you mean.
Rebuild the theatre as it was? On our dead bodies... it was built to the plans of a British architect who did not even come to see the site, botched up the plans because he did not even know that the site was sloping, and gave Malta a Neo-Classical building completely alien to Valletta's style. To boot, the British governor who was responsible for the project ordered the demolishing of a whole block of 16 and 17 Century 'palazzi'.
The previous City Gate was another British idea, Victorian in concept (just take a look at Victoria Gate on the harbour side).
Let's make a leap forward, for crying out loud, and build something inspiring. I definitely do not like the post-war monstrosity of the Law Courts, or the GWU building, both replacing bombed-down Auberges, or the 'shoebox' apartments instead of the Mandragg, but they have now become part of the City as any other.
I see more modern styling in Mr Piano's plans.
The Theatre was beautiful and it can still be rebuilt as it was. What it's used in the inside, I really don't care - just build the outside to its original design and future generations will bless such a decision while curse a changed plan as has been presented.