Pleasant collective memories

Once every blue moon I have time to sit and relax, enjoying a good book. One such book, a personal favourite, is Camera Pictures Of Malta, probably published some 80 years ago. Its narrative is simple, just a veritable feast for the eye as images of every corner of our island are captured in simple faded black, white and grey. For anyone who has lived here long enough, it not only takes you back to a Malta still not harassed by cars and afflicted by frenzied overdevelopment but, above all, reminds one of the improbable but venerable history and the gems that proclaimed those times.

Standing head and shoulders above the rest of our sometimes unappreciated treasures must surely be our capital city, Valletta. A city built by gentlemen; a city, which, for a very long time, has been treated very ungentlemanly. Richard England was brazen, or shall I say honest enough, to call it "a jewel in a rubbish bin"! I wouldn't go that far but I must admit that, although much has been done, Valletta's rehabilitation has far more to go to regain its integral dignity and to resurrect its noble soul. At long last, Renzo Piano's plans for City Gate, the building of Parliament House and the restoration of the Royal Opera House ruins has put Valletta at the top of our agenda. It seems that 65 years of controversy, horrible ghastly structures and botched plans will be finally coming to an end.

This non-conformist, shy, Genoese architectural genius has been entrusted with the enviable task of restoring gravitas and stature to the entrance of our capital city.

Not so much a simple cluster of project and plans, Mr Piano has once again proven that brilliant engineering ideas and creativity can meld to produce stunning buildings.

Not only is Mr Piano an architect, he is a stage manager par excellence in stone, steel and glass.

Valletta City Gate will be a special place. Mr Piano has managed to envision a fantastic environment that is at once sombre, nostalgic and at the same time cuttingly futuristic. Handling such a massive structure while creating a sense of transparency requires a masterstroke. It is uncanny that Mr Piano has been able to integrate the mighty strength of the fortifications and the rediscovery of the grand ditches with the building of such a futuristic building as that of Parliament. In clearing the spaces around the square, St James Cavalier will regain its presence so long overshadowed by those appalling archways.

One aspect that seems to have stirred much controversy and huffing is the restoration of Barry's opera house. Should it be open or should it be roofed? I suppose, after all it is a matter of opinion. One would think that the least intervention the better. As Mr Piano himself said, this site has become a pillar, a definite component in the nation's collective memory - a living stark reminder of the folly of war and the hardships of our forbearers! Hopefully, this structure will not be a grinch in the process. One hopes that the time for consultation will be short, effective and productive.

Since the inception of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project in 1987, small but significant improvements have been happening in Valletta. Among the most significant are probably St James Cavalier, the cruise passenger terminal, the Garrison church, the restoration of many public monuments, the paving of many important streets, the scheduling and drafting of specific plans and the new traffic arrangements making Valletta a healthier place. Mr Piano's plans should link all these undertakings together, completing a frame that has been waiting for a long time to be unveiled.

This ambitious undertaking requires serious planning with a capital S. The project must be on time and, hopefully, within budget. Alas, other issues appear unresolved. Probably the most thorny would be the whole bus terminus. Mr Piano is intent on radically changing the traffic arrangements for Valletta but it seems there is insufficient information about the controlled mayhem that still abounds just outside the city. This issue must be resolved once and for all for the benefit of both operators and the public. I am confident that this issue can be resolved as an integral part of the whole endeavour.

So far the project has not taken any funny political angle and there seems to be a political consensus surrounding the City Gate project. By all means, this does not imply that changes cannot be effected. The government should listen carefully to all positive inputs that could improve the plans. One expects that a national project of such importance will not fall prey to Malta's favourite pastime of political football.

Valletta is in for an exciting makeover. Let's put the show on the road!

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