Veronica Galea, Munich, Germany
Opera house site plans not good enough (2)
I took a look at the plan for the redevelopment of City Gate, Freedom Square and the site of the former Opera House. It is very disappointing. It is strange that despite the great interest expressed by citizens and NGOs for the building of a cultural centre or a new opera house, that this Administration is ready to go ahead and take a great chunk of funds to build a massive bunker on stilts. It is true there are plenty of those around here in Munich, but that doesn't make them any more pretty.
What really takes the biscuit though is the plastic seating and poles projecting from the ground at the site of the former Opera House. It really is enough to bring tears to your eyes. Is this all that could be done to satisfy the wishes of the people? While still shocked and really saddened, there is a ray of light. It is in the shape of a plan designed with much thought and a whole bunch of respect too. It is Giovanni Trevisan's plan for the site of the former Opera House. The wish behind it is to raise from the ruins a cultural site that once more, can attest to Valletta's vigour, the capital of our hearts. Mr Trevisan's design may not suit everyone's style or everyone's idea of a cultural centre but one thing it surely does is to suit the collective sentiment. The plan is for a completed building which can be used for cultural activities all year around. Renzo Piano's design for an unfinished development, on whatever pretext, is a slap in the face to the Maltese public.
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M. Catania
Jul 3rd 2009, 18:12
Who are the people? Are you the people? I am suspecting that a newly built opera house will hardly cover its recurrent expenditure let alone recoup its expenses. I saw Giovanni Trevisan's plans for the Opera house and they are very similiar to Piano's plans with the exception being that Trevisan's plans includes a roof. I hope that like many other projects I do not finish paying for something that is enjoyed by the elitist few.
Jovan Mizzi
Jul 3rd 2009, 13:51
Having dedicated many hours to developing and communicating Giovanni Trevisan's plans, I am pleased to read your comment that expresses appreciation of the result of that effort.
Will any Opera House be perfect?
It helps me to remember David Stone’s comment “A decent opera house is better than a perfect opera house, if the latter remains on paper and the decent one gets built.”
Jovan Mizzi