Piano's plans for Valletta (1)

Renzo Piano's remarkable designs for Valletta are projects that complement the architectural attributes of our capital city.

Approaching Valletta from the Triton Fountain one is struck by what looks like a chunky slice of stone neatly cut away from the bastion.

The remaining eight-metre gap with clean, straight edges, invites access to the visitor.

The first overall impression from the exterior generates a sense of continuity with the past and a breakthrough with the present. On the right hand side, sliding smoothly along the rocky side of the bastion, an elevator rises from the green, shady, cool depth of the ditch. Proceeding towards the main entrance the visitor crosses over a narrow bridge which for hundreds of years has been crossed by millions of people.

Moving inwards, the entrance gap widens at the top in a taper fashion, exposing a clear unobstructed sky, an element of timelessness; while the thick, high, massive walls on each side of the entrance gently embrace the visitor with a sense of strength and security.

Once through, right behind the entrance, a long shallow flight of low steps closely flanks the right and the left sides as in a mirror image. These steps are so reminiscent of a similar architectural feature in the much older days of Porta Reale with the same purpose, only this time they have a different orientation.

Once in, on the right side of Republic Street stands the Parliament building whose significance is intentionally and visibly expressed through its design; standing high, prominent and modestly proud, but above all, reachable.

A few metres on, highly ornate remnants of a historical disaster, of the horrors of war are given a new lease of life. They become foundations to a composite structure which through the use of a variety of materials expresses celebration.

I hope the people will see this marvellous dream realised.