Saturday, 4th July 2009
Debate continues on Piano's City Gate plans (5)
Let me state a priori that I fully support the general drift of public opinion that something must be done urgently about the main entrance to our capital city. It is truly disgraceful but does that mean that we need to be faced with a take it or leave it situation? Could we not perhaps pick and chose the better elements of the proposed Piano plans?
I do not wish to enter the technical or architectural aspects of the debate on the project as there are definitely many more eminently qualified persons to do so. What I do object to is the way a new parliament building has been rather cleverly slipped into the project.
As Marisa Micallef Leysin rightly points out in her contribution in The Times (Colonising A Concrete Jungle) the public has been clamouring for the reconstruction of the old opera house site and not for a new building to house our parliamentarians in luxury. We also wanted to rid ourselves of the monstrosity of present day City Gate. Those, I think, were the public's two prime concerns. But in true "we-know-what's-best-for-you" spirit, the powers that be have decided otherwise.
The Prime Minister has been quoted as saying that the whole project will cost in the region of €80 million. Given past performance of cost control or rather the lack of it, I would not be surprised if the final cost is closer to €100 million!
From what I can make out of Renzo Piano's present designs for the old opera house site, I do not envisage much more than €10 million being spent there. If my estimate is anywhere near correct, then the new home for our 65 parliamentarians and the new city gate may end up costing in the region of €80 or €90 million. I also have reservations on the suitability and practicability of a roofless building as an arts centre - could we perhaps consider a retractable roof of sorts to get the best of both worlds, so to speak?
Just as I criticised the extravagance of the acquisition of Dar Malta in Brussels, I also question the wisdom of this decision. I have written more than once in The Times that the government should seek a less expensive solution for Parliament but as usual my pleas fell on deaf ears. I will not bore readers with the details of my suggestions but I am more than sure that there are less costly alternatives.
In conclusion, I believe Mr Piano's plans could be adopted as presented with the proviso that he uses his undisputed talents to create a new and wonderful garden/piazza for Freedom Square. I am sure he can come up with something very special. Parliament can wait.
Footnote: As I write this piece I note that a Times poll of 3,480 people is showing that only 33 per cent are in favour of the project. Does that mean anything?
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Comments
Dear Mr Giglio, if you re-read your letter you will see that you yourself have answered the question of what's wrong with Parliament at City Gate. For a start, having not just Parliament but even a museum of political history dominating the entrance to our capital simply perpetuates the notion that politics should dominate our lives, a peculiarly Maltese obsession which exists in no other country but which our politicians seek to encourage.
The other point is that, as you point out, all Valletta's important monuments are concentrated between City Gate and the Palace. There is virtually nothing lower than that, and all of lower Valletta has been abandoned for the last century. A parliament in one of our under-used palaces like the Conference Centre or Auberge de Baviere, would at the same time save on millions in taxpayer money and use one of our few available resources, available empty palaces, as well as serving to regenerate a whole half a city and its residents. It would tie in with a new hotel at Evans Labs and the regeneration of St Elmo. Now that would be vision!
You use a lot of words to repeat the fallacies that Marisa Micallef has already written. It is a sign of political shallowness (or worse) to consider parliament as "a new building to house our parliamentarians in luxury". All I can do is suggest that you read 'Nikbru Flimkien, the Social Studies textbook used by Form II and II students. In it you will find all you need to learn about the significance of parliament for a democratic society. It's a good summer read and should help you change your mind about "parliamentarians".
Valletta is a tiny city and for its proportion there is quite a number of piazzas & gardens: Upper and lower Barrakka, Hastings Garden, St.John's square, St.George's square and what is known as the "Valletta ring".
I believe we have discussed the restructuring of the entrance to Valletta, and the rebuilding of the ruined theatre for quite a long time ( the latter since the end of WW11 when we refused the German offer of rebuilding it gratis), it is about time that this project is implemented.