Ray Sacco, Qawra
Debate continues on Piano's City Gate plans (1)
It seems so simple, yet for our politicians it is so complicated! For 60 years they have been taking us for a ride and now they come up with this mega-expensive venture! What more can complement our capital city's entrance and its bastions than its original structures? Why not build a replica of the old theatre and City Gate? Which other building can be more original and in harmony with the surroundings? Why employ a world known architect to come up with the idea of just pulling City Gate down, leaving the theatre as it is and surrounding it with perspex walls, destroying one of the few piazzas in the city and replacing the parking area in the ditch with a garden?!
Castles and old cities around the world have been doing this for such a long time! But on this special tiny island we turned our capital's ditch into a parking lot and Mdina is surrounded by an eye-sore of a dusty football ground and tennis court. And yet it was beyond the imagination of our politicians to figure out that gardens could be more appropriate for such sites. Did we need a foreign master architect to tell us that?
And why do we have to demolish Freedom Square for the new parliament building when there are so many buildings in Valletta in a pitiable state? St Elmo is only one building that comes to mind. Wouldn't it be more impressive for a capital city to welcome visitors with a majestic pedestrian square which Freedom Square should be turned into? It certainly would be far less impressive for visitors to encounter the building where our great politicians congregate to tackle such difficult tasks as elevating the standard of our capital's entrance.
As for the theatre and the City Gate; so much money could be spared if the government follows the example of the Mediterranean Conference Centre which was turned into what we know today from the ruins of the Knights Hall by government architects and workers in months? Why not use the same Labour force to make replicas of those old monuments which made our capital's entrance so unique?
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Carmel Attard
Jul 12th 2009, 03:58
We too Love our Great City that is one Big Reason that I keep coming back to Where i was Born and Grew up!! The City is my blood it flows in me every minute of my life and it does not matter How far I may be!! In my many visits,I am practically there every day and still know all the ones who throng our beloved cozy streets. But that Gate been a thorn in every part of my body since some smart idiot decided to pull it down .. Well lets Put it Back up .. we need no Architechts, just Builkders and Engineers. Stop wasting money and be the laughing stock of all those who have a bit of respect for our City.
ray sacco
Jul 6th 2009, 18:28
So Mr. Antoine Vella believes it's a bad idea to erect a replica of the original theatre, but on the other hand he thinks it's a fantastic plan to keep the original's ruins and surround them with plastic walls!!!!!!!!!!!! I am no architect, but i live on this island where every summer night is dominated by pettards from all over the island. Can someone tell me how can an open-air theatre function under these conditions? To Mr.Martinelli, yes i will pay a part of the expenditure needed because I pay ALL my taxes. Apart from this, how is it that building a replica of the original will cost more? The Meditteranian Conference Centre was built by government workers with the least costs and is a fine example of the ability of the Maltese workers without the help (mind you, not for free) of foreign architects.
pat camilleri
Jul 5th 2009, 10:05
Please stop wasting time and money.What the majority of people on this island want is to rebuild the theatre and the old gate as they were.The germans destroyed one and the np the other if I am not mistaken. Please correct me if I am. No need for foreign architects, we have wonderful young architects who will be more than pleased to guide the rebuilding , and will have no ego problems,about not designing the projects themselves Dr Gonzi, please please take the decision and get going.Dr Gonzi this and the curbing of Mepa are two vital issues which depend on you. The people who voted you in are waiting.
Frank Bowman
Jul 5th 2009, 08:29
I am not an architect or even close to the profession, but don't tell me I do not have the right to comment or give my opinion.
All that Piano did - I can accept, but for two ideas.
I expected the Opera House or Theatre to be sheltered, not open. As I expect that performances should be held all year round, and not limited to good weather.
And I certainly do not like the idea of a lift (elevator) on the outside of the walls, it is such a sore to the eyes. It could have been embedded in the walls behind huge glass.
In general - the reason to commission Piano for this project (not investment as some say it is) can cost us a wager for the next 100 years. Can we really afford the expense?.
Pule Carmel
Jul 4th 2009, 20:30
A city built by gentlemen for gentlemen has been changed over the recent years into a shopping, cheap entertaining, residential area built by commoners for commoners.
Most of our schools are built like that, with the same philosophy, and so the reduction of interest and attitude of all who live in them.
Incidentally would you not considder the worker's statue at Msida GWO monument to be the start of the art present in Russia in the manner the worker and his wife were depicted? Reduction of interest and attitude in schools, university, morality in residential areas, the level of art in theatres etc, all are related to the lines projected by the building that encloses us. Just study the type of buildings that attract a lot of immorality and criminology and one has some idea of the responsibility of an architect. Such points in Malta are never considered hence our standards in all that we do.
v.pulis
Jul 4th 2009, 20:04
I agree that the designs are 'ingenious' but Renzo Piano's genius lies not so much in the designs as in the fact that he manged to satisfy every body's wishes or almost everybody's. He designed a theatre without really designing a theatre by keeping the nostalgic ruins thus satisfying those harking back to Berry while at the same time giving a theatre to those who wanted one, he satisfied the PM by giving him a new parliament at the entrance to Valletta while building it on stilts for those who still want a piazza and he designed a non gate consequently eliminating the glorified garage door and at the same time avoiding criticism by those who wanted the old gate back...no gate no criticsm. Who said Renzo is not a genius.
Antoine Vella
Jul 4th 2009, 19:47
The alternative to professional architects, (i.e. the “other kind”) are the amateur wannabe architects who believe that they could do a better job than Piano. Than everybody else, in fact.
It would have been acceptable to rebuiild the theatre just after the war as was done in other countries. I think that immediately putting up a replica of a destroyed building helps to cope with the loss and overcome the trauma of whatever catastrophe (war, earthquake, fire, etc) caused the destruction. It is like putting the clock back and creating the sensation that the disaster never happened and that life can continue - or restart - as normal. This was the case when the Royal Opera House was destroyed by fire, for example, but now, sixty five years after it was destroyed by war, it’s a bit late to justify its replication on such grounds.
Charles Sammut
Jul 4th 2009, 18:23
Antoine Vella is just parroting Piano's excuse not to decide on the Opera house because obviously he doesn't know what to do about it. By this convoluted logic, the Teatro la Fenici is a fake. As is Monte Cassino monastery and hundreds of other buildings which were rebuilt after the ravages of WW II, all fakes.
So what would the Opera House ruins become once they are bedecked with those poles and panels? Faker than fake. And next to useless.
ray mangion
Jul 4th 2009, 17:45
So tired of so many of you, not all who bitch and cannot comment in an honest way and without political venom. The point is most of the bloggers talk as if they know everything about architecture and theatre. You come out looking and sounding like fools. I speak through experience as a professional performer, producer and director and I can assure you that the plans for the ruins for an open theatre are going to be very limited to what can be staged in there. Where are the massive wings and the latest technology of a counterweight system for smooth scene changes, the flies. Accoustics? The frustration of having wobbley scene changes and crashing sets has been embarrassing in all the theatres we have. So if you don`t have neither the experience nor the knowhow, please don`t comment. Pianos designs are brilliant but not suitable for Valletta.
John. Dingli
Jul 4th 2009, 17:19
Well done Ray. I ask: 'why should an open square in Valletta be built up when an alternative exists at Fort St. Elmo; if City Gate is demolished, pity because now is the time for the original GATE to be restored with the figures of LaVallette and Lille Adam; the removal of Queensway is a big mistake. I hope this will not lead to the demolishing of Duke of York Avenue!!; the Royal Opera House should be rebuilt as original. With all due respect to Mr. Piano, surely local architects are capable enough to do the necessary! The Kiel Cathedral as well as the Dresden Cathedral were both rebuilt from scratch with their original stone and these are certainly not fakes
Victor Laiviera
Jul 4th 2009, 16:43
@ Mr J Martinelli (or shall I call you Jomar?)
1) If the Old Opera House "did not conform to the city's architecture" , the Piaono designs conform even less. So that argument goes out of the window.
2) Those who are "in favour of replicating the old Opera House" WILL be paying for it - through their taxes. You, since you do not live in Malta and do not pay taxes here, will not.
Victor Laiviera
Jul 4th 2009, 16:01
@ Mr Antoine Vella
Dresden which was destroyed by wartime bombing, was restored to its original glory, and most major historical buildinsw were built exactly as they were before they were destroyed.
So are they all "fakes"? Who planned and built them since "no architect worth his sale is going to design a copy"?
In any case, you are totally wrong when you say the it is up to a "professional architect" (is there any other kind?) to tell us what to build. That decision rests with the principal who will be paying for the work (the taxpayers) . The architect's job is to tell us the best way to do it.
Andrew Scicluna
Jul 4th 2009, 15:18
@ Antoine Vella: Yes of course, the 'professional' architect is king on this island. That's why a good part of our University looks like a play school, and St. Julian's Bay like a mirrored dictionary....need I go on?
J Martinelli
Jul 4th 2009, 14:39
Mitt bniedem - mitt fehma!
Why not rebuilt City Gate and the Old Opera house?
Last two city gates were erected through imposition or haste - nothing historical about them.
Old Opera House did not conform to the city's architecture and although pleasing to the eye (most of us through old photographs) the obvious mismatch should not be repeated. If indeed the design was so pleasing, why not build something similar outside Valletta?
If there are so many in favour of replicating the old Opera House, they should be willing to, at least, pay for some of it.
j n ebejer
Jul 4th 2009, 14:00
The original building were original for their era. Thus, the building which stood at the 'opera site' was a household in the Knights's era, the theare in the British era. So goes for the city entrance. There were two doors even before the British decicded to bring those down. For whatever reasons and whatever choice of style.
So whoever speaks of the original should define of which era and in doing so, he looses the power of his argument of 'the original' when refferring to a theatre- because that was a replacement of an original itself - wantonly and not through an enemy action or otherwise.
Ohterwise he would be disguising nostalgic, personal tastes with the power of logic or argument.
a montebello
Jul 4th 2009, 13:53
Antoine Vella... well done about no architect agreeing to build a replica.
Who wants a replica anyway. That would be like buying a Regency-style bureaux .... from IKEA!
Piano's vision will put Valetta on the international map and, like it or not, these will be the monuments of tomorrow.
Richard England and Conrad Thake - both Maltese, both internationally recognized - have praised the designs as being "ingenious"
As for the MCC.... it is a conference hall being used as a theatre. there are no flies, acoustics are terrible, and the backstage facilities are minimal at best.
Antoine Vella
Jul 4th 2009, 12:28
Ray Sacco,
You cannot have the original gate or the theatre because they do not exist any more. What you can have is a fake, a copy. Ray Sacoo, how can I spell it out? NO ARCHITECT WORTH HIS SALT IS GOING TO DESIGN A COPY. It is not the politicians: it is the architects - Maltese and foreign - historians and other professionals who are unanimous in this. You have a right to your opinion but you should be reasonable enough to realise that the opinion of a professional architect carries more weight than yours when it comes to decision-taking.