FAA demands release of Renzo Piano brief

An environmental lobby group has called on the government to make the brief it gave architect Renzo Piano for the redevelopment of Valletta's entrance public.

Flimkien Għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) said the publication of the brief would indicate the limitations imposed on the architect.

In its first reaction to the proposals of the world-renowned Italian architect for Valletta's entrance - the old opera house site and the new Parliament building in Freedom Square - the NGO voiced its concern about the fact that the new House of Representatives dominated the site.

While a theatre and the reconstruction of the City Gate area were on the cards, civil society never called for a new Parliament, the FAA said as it complained about lack of consultation.

"This was proposed by politicians and no one else. This idea was mooted some five years ago and dropped since the building of Parliament on the opera house site did not enjoy much popular support," FAA said.

The project gave the impression that the opera house site would be given a face-lift because the bombed site had "acquired historical merit". However, the emphasis of the brief given to Mr Piano seemed to have been on the Parliament building rather than on the theatre, the NGO complained.

The lobby group proposed finding alternative buildings available where to accommodate Parliament, such as Fort St Elmo, the rehabilitation of which was largely stalled for lack of funds. That would allow the government to save on a €40 million Parliament project that had no touristic, employment or social regeneration benefit and use a large part of those funds to realise lower Valletta's potential as a culture and heritage centre that would be the pride of any nation.