Piano project: 'a great improvement' - FWA

Vince DeBono

Jul 15th 2009, 22:24

If Barry's design does not fit a Renaissance / Baroque city, what about the law courts? Pseudo Roman ....

iCocker

Jul 15th 2009, 21:40

@ J N Ebejer

Well said and you hit the nail ... no one ever mention to rebuilt what the British took down to make their famous Opera House.

As D.Vella mentions, our city is not a one style baroque city as many believe, it is an evolvement of architecture reflecting all the passage of Maltese History. Our city is a mix of styles ... like the Anglican Church, Victoria Gate, the Statue of the Queen, the Break Water, the Old Market [the structure was ART NUVEAU in style] the GWU building, the Law Courts, the new Malls and the Blocks of Flats around the city, are these Baroque style ... NO ... will all these be brought down to make a museum city... Neither !!!!

j n ebejer

Jul 15th 2009, 17:26

The comments by this NGO are much to be respected and agreed with, it save for the labelling of the opnions against the rebuilding as opinions against building a fake.
There were arguments against the rebuilding of the opera house which merit more consideration than a simple labelling and this denounces a shortcoming from the part of the NGO representative.
One reason to ponder about is the fact that there has always been a learned judgement that the style in which the demolished opera house was considered dissonant.
Itself had replaced the original building - so there is the question shouldn't one then, consider build that 'original' building if one wants to put forward the rebuilding opinion. Other commented that a theatre within the framework of the old opera house is difficult if not impossible - some of these opinions were based on appreciable experience in the field.
In the case of the style design chosen it could make more sense and harmony were all the new setting chosen be of the same style - in this case contemporary - against a modern reconsruction of a classical building on part and part no.

Raymond Sammut

Jul 15th 2009, 17:15

One important aspect which the Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna did not address in this report is that the Piano design is Eco Friendly. Note how car traffic flow and car parking have both been eliminated. At the same time, space and mobility to the pedestrian have been increased, while more scope for horticulture has also been created -- a bonanza for Malta's very able gardeners. This is a City entrance that welcomes the pedestrian, not the motorist. Piano is encouraging people from all walks of life, most importantly the elected parliamentarians, to "walk" and to "enjoy" their clean city upon entering. This is an important statement by Piano. It allows people to feel at home and relaxed rather than isolated and stressed. It provides the beginning to an environmentally friendly Valletta.

Adrian Borg Cardona

Jul 15th 2009, 16:42

@ D. Vella: where is the art nouveau building in Valletta, please? I am very interested in this style of art and acrhitecture but have not seen it in Valletta.
@the rest: I am really surprised that some people keep on saying that the Barry Opera House did not fit in with the rest of Valletta. This and other arguments (like the one that Barry made a mistake in his plans) keep on surfacing now after well known Govt apologists made this statement. The Maltese people loved it and that is what is important. Again, how will the Piano stop-gap creation (waste of money) fit in with the rest of Valletta? Better do nothing now and wait till we have a decent Govt that can afford a decent theatre then all this rush to complete before the end of this legislature! Oh, and I know I am not supposed to comment on Piano's plans but Mr. Piano himself did ask us to debate them.

r ferriggi

Jul 15th 2009, 16:15

the time has arrived for this WORLD-ACCLAIMED designer and architect to grace us with his ideas for this project. are they NECESSARILY all perfect or good? no.

but the chances are ,,,,,,, that they are close or very close to the desired, coming from a guy with such high (and proven!!) credentials.

there will always be smaller aspects which you or me will not like,,,,, so what??

regarding the theatre,,,,, had the previous designer visited valletta and the surroundings of the squares and palaces?? ,,,,where was the blending with the surroundings ?? some form of ''connection'' to the existing city ?? nothing. just look at the fotos.

and then look at the proposed designs!!

i am not saying that it would not have fitted somewhere else ( in another european city). but surely not in valletta.

Piano's idea for the theatre also leaves it open for various ideas of how to use it. and also the option that future generations can still develop the space into something else according to the circumstances of the times.

Mike Magri

Jul 15th 2009, 15:17

As i always said and commented on other blogs, it is absolutely no excuse to not to build the Opera Theatre the way it was, (or very similar), because of not sufficient funds..

The answer is simple.. GET THE MONEY FROM NOT BUILDING A NEW PARLAMENT.. Other buildings in Valletta, and which could be easily converted to `Happily` house our parlamentarians with the minimum of costs, ALREADY EXISTS..

Besides, Parlament Buildings are not revenue generators, but a PROPER OPERA HOUSE IS.. IS.. IS.. For example... Who the hell is that tourist who would even dream of coming to Malta to see a Parlament building..!! But to attend to a performance of an Opera and / or to even SEE the HISTORICAL Theatre Building itself, YES HE WILL come to Malta...

So lets be sensible for once, and truly get our Value For Money on this whole project..

Michael Sciortino

Jul 15th 2009, 14:26

@ Antoine Vella.
There is space for a theatre if it is built on the combined space of the old theatre and freedom square eliminating that part of ordinance street in between.
The present chamber of deputies is more than enough to house MPs especially since only a handful are present at any sitting. If MPs require offices they can be found elsewhere in Valletta.

DVella

Jul 15th 2009, 14:19

@Steven Camilleri
What makes you think that the new contemporary architecture of the proposed Parliament building will 'not go down' well with other valletta buildings?? Take the neo-classical Main Guard building just opposite the early Renaissance Grandmaster's Palace . . . anything wrong there?? Anybody with the first understanding of architecture, will know that 200years separates those buildings. Take every city in Europe, steel and glass multi-storey buildings sit next to 300year old (and older) Gothic Churches . . . it is part of the organic evolution of any city . . . Vallettta is no exception if we want it to remain alive. Those misguided individuals that want it to remain locked in time are, on the one hand living in cuckooland because they are incapable of realising that there already is a vast diversity of architectural idioms in Valletta's buildings, and on the other hand they are ignorant of one of the most basic principles of architecture, that every building should proclaim its age and the culture that produced it. Valletta already has Renaissance, Neo Classical, Classical Revivalist and even Art Nouveau buildings and this is obvious to those that know what they're talking about.

Antoine Vella

Jul 15th 2009, 13:31

Anne Marie Kissaun and others

It has been patiently explained by Renzo Piano - and at least one prominent Maltese architect on television - that the site of the opera house is TOO SMALL for a modern enclosed theatre.

This is not the 19th century: there are certain conditions to be followed when designing a public building that would hold hundreds of people.

Architects know what they're talking about and they have publicly given valid technical reasons. Nagging and nagging and keeping on nagging about it serves only to bore and irritate people.

Eventually, when the time is right, someone will build a new modern theatre. It will have to be outside Valletta because there isn't enough space anywhere inside the walls and it will therefore be in some other town or village.

iCocker

Jul 15th 2009, 12:15

@ all

Not better stop grumbling we all are aware that it's going to be done as planned ... hobbu u obodu!

At least after 60 years things are gonna be done ... but I wonder when they will be complete ... hope not in another 60 years!

Steven Camilleri

Jul 15th 2009, 12:06

Just a question please, now I am no architect or desighner but people say that the Royal Opera House never belonged in Valletta in the first place because it dosen't go down well with the other building's, but what about the new parlament ,shall it go down well with the rest of Valletta?

M. Tabone

Jul 15th 2009, 11:35

FWA comments were made very professionally and I hope that the Gov will listen them before taking a decision. Final comment is that most people in Malta want the bombed opera house be built again perhaps not as an opera house but for another purpose.

Tonna J.

Jul 15th 2009, 11:24

@ R. Ferriggi - Reading your contribution I thought I was reading wise words from a professor of architecture or design, rubbishing every architect's design, but on re reading it I found that you are 'not an architect or designer or anything of that sort '. What then if you were???

M Grima

Jul 15th 2009, 11:19

Few are saying that they want the Barry replica back. All .apart from the odd hack ,are saying that they want a Theatre with a roof. That is sensible and logical Some of the remains of the original could be incorporated into the roofed Theatre no problem there.

A majority are saying that they do not want Parliament on that site and a minority are saying they don't like the new entrance. So actually there is overall agreement. It's only the Government, and Opposition( by it's silence )that do not agree.

C.Formosa

Jul 15th 2009, 11:11

@R.Ferriggi;
So true,about the Excelsior.
The old carbuncle was transformed into an even bigger, uglier monstrosity.

Joseph Galea

Jul 15th 2009, 11:06

Rather wierd reasoning. The plans are praised but then "FWA said it was still of the view that this building ought to be rebuilt to its original 19th century design..." It is incredible that the supposed guardians of our heritage continue to pine after a building that never belonged in Valletta in the first place. It was even designed without the architect having visited the site resulting in the stairs on Republic Street, because he designed the building for a flat site. Piano's scheme acknowledges the 'ruins' of the Opera House, which have achieved historic value for the length of time that they have stood there, and gives them dignity. However, to rebuild Barry's classical white elephant in 2009 would be a mistake of historical proportions.

Anne Marie Kissaun

Jul 15th 2009, 10:28

Most of us only want back the ROYAL OPERA HOUSE AS IT STOOD BEFORE BOMBING, AS IT DESERVES TO BE and SHOULD BE especially Valletta being a World Heritage. Parliament can take up residence somewhere else in Valletta and the square should be embellished in tune with the Royal Opera House. As to the entrance, that is another case. AWFUL. I sincerely hope that common sense will finally prevail and the men in power will give heed to most of the pro comments being viewed by the public of having the ROYAL OPERA HOUSE BACK . LET IT NOT BE TOO LATE.

D Vella

Jul 15th 2009, 10:10

"But suddenly it chanced to rain
And so they all went home again" (Oxford Nursery Rhyme)

Ok so you mean a couple of planks or three ,a spot for a light and.as Shakespeare might have said" No kingdom for a Stage and no Monarch's to behold the swelling scene" (prologue.Henry V).

edward bartolo

Jul 15th 2009, 09:43

Quote: "With regard to the Royal Opera House ruins, FWA said it was still of the view that this building ought to be rebuilt to its original 19th century design despite all the talk against the rebuilding of 'fakes'."

Well said. I totally agree to rebuild the Opera House to its original 19th century design.

Robert Aquilina

Jul 15th 2009, 09:34

A very sensible approach from a highly effective non-fundamentalist NGO

r ferriggi

Jul 15th 2009, 09:20

it is strange and baffling that FWA with all the experts etc still retain the opinion that the old theatre is rebuilt as it was.

i am not an architect or designer or anything of that sort but it is clear that this building stood out for its ,,,,,, let me be milder than mild..... awkwardness compared to the other buildings in Valletta.

IMHO,,, even the ugly blocks of public housing near the pitch and other newer buildings are ugly and should be pulled down eventually. ( people should be housed in new buildings built in frequency with Valletta style).

finally,,,,, may i add the UGLY UGLY huge hotel ( excelsior??) near the ferry landing near sa Maison. a total total disaster , from whatever angle. the architects of that one should be,,,,,banned from practising.

as well as those ( government??) appointed architects who built those apartments in birgu or isla near the fortifications.