Bernard A. Vassallo, Swieqi
Valletta needs arched entrance gates
It is being proposed to insert a slit in Valletta's fortifications at City Gate.
These landward fortifications of an impregnable city have always had a gate, first Porta San Giorgio in 1566, renamed Porta Reale by GM de Verdale around 1586, and Kingsgate during the British period.
All of Valletta's designs incorporated arched entrance gates: at Porta Reale, at Porta del Monte or Porta Marina now Victoria Gate, and at the former gate facing Marsamxett Harbour, later replaced by an arch.
For obvious defence purposes, no slits in the city's walls and no square gates were envisaged, or built. Valletta is, or was originally, a Mannerist and Baroquestyle city, until adversely affected by modern war. Hence, the purity and uniformity of its design.
In my opinion, the proposed slit in the fortifications at City Gate is out of place, and does not match the style of the city of the Knights.
The ancient temple at Edfu, Egypt has slit sides, but at Valletta they are out of place.
As a person born and bred in this venerable city, I feel that Valletta's architecture needs to match its original purpose faithfully and aesthetically.
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Kleaven Maniscalco
Dec 10th 2009, 23:03
@ Mr. A. Vassallo. Creating a breach as proposed by renzo piano reflects the philosophy Valletta is adopting nowadays, ie. that of a cultural and economic city. Thus logically the city, being alive, shifted its use from a fortified city, that served as a protection and as a living space for its inabitants, to a city that is open for commerce and culture. Creating a breach in the wall defines the philosophy of this modern era. The city is breached to invite everyone in. We are trying to eliminate bounderies, thus we breach the fortifications as a sign of such philosophy.
Creating modern architecture in a living city is thus also justified as it demarks our era in the lifeline of the city......as happened also in its past. Thus I think that this intervention must be seen from this point of view. I think that the attitude of this is how it was so this is how it should be, is way past modern architectural philosophy. As an architect this is what I think.
Alfred Baldacchino
Dec 10th 2009, 22:59
Would the Piano design been accepted if it was the work of any other architect ?
M.Debono
Dec 10th 2009, 22:23
I totally agree with Mr Vassallo. I'm afraid Piano is just going to create another horrid something that is out of place in a baroque city like Valletta. But then everyone has his opinions and such important decisions are always taken by the powerful and most influential and not necessarily by who is arguably 'right'.
clare spiteri
Dec 10th 2009, 21:55
Quite right Mr Vassallo. We want the arched gate, and not some new fangled monstrosity. Scrap Mr Piano and let the majority of the maltese decide what they want done with their capital. No open air play house. No parliment. Save the money for restoring our heritage and fixing these awful roads.
adrian borg cardona
Dec 10th 2009, 17:52
@J. Maritnelli: you state: "The slit is already there albeit filled by an ugly 'City Gate' which is out of character with Valletta's architecture". I do not think you can call City Gate a 'slit' - it is meant to represent a gate with smaller doors on each side. What is proposed is a narrow gash in between two blocks of stone. And I am glad you have made the freudian slip that the present structure "is out of character with Valletta's character"!" Surely you must apply the same qualification to Piano's plans - ultra modern with baroque? Totally out of character. Just like St.. George's Square! But somebody is determined to have his monument. To me that is already in place - at Bahrija: A monument to the Govt's abdication of protection of the Maltese heritage.
Joseph P Borg
Dec 10th 2009, 16:53
Ivan Blix
If you have missed the fortifications around Valletta I would suggest you visit an oculist.
Well stated Mr Vassallo. Piano plan for the city entrance may very well compete in horridness with the existing buildings around freedom square.
Alfred Farrugia
Dec 10th 2009, 16:49
I completely disagree. Some of the buildings in Valletta should be pulled down so that diagonal avenues may be introduced as is the case in other cities, including Washington, DC. The grid of streets should be messed up so that Manhattan or New York City would remain one of the few cities with such a pattern. Just kidding!
Is the public consultation period over? How is it that the contracts for the City “No” Gate project have been awarded, while ADI Associates are still carrying on their traffic impact assessment? What is the use of consulting the people? Has Piano become untouchable?
Charles Sammut
Dec 10th 2009, 15:04
Mr Vassallo is obviously right, but our politicians want a new playhouse. To disguise that, they made up a whole project estimated to cost EUR80 million ( to more than double with time) where they will knock down the existing gate and replace it with nothing and stick some poles into the Opera House ruins and call it an open air theatre suitable only for summer use when everybody is at the beach or away on holiday.
Perhaps we can console ourselves that the present gate is so hideous that, nothing is better than something negative, in this case. 0 is greater than -1 sort of logic. How the traffic which passes over it at present, will be rerouted, I don't know.
Clayton Camenzuli
Dec 10th 2009, 14:23
The first gate was built by Grand Master de Paule, before there was just a hole from where a cart could pass, but i see your point. Please we have already flagellated the city in the post war period. Now with no advice from the government has decided to remove an obscenity and replace it by another.
I feel that the artist should incorporate something new, granted, but should do this by amalgamating his plan with the artistic idiosyncrasy of the grand capital. Shouldn't be difficult, even i am capable on doing so being no architect. Thus I imagine Piano would do it even better and in any case why Renzo Piano and there was no cononcosro to choose the architect??
J Martinelli
Dec 10th 2009, 13:33
@ Bernard A. Vassallo
The new plans do not include "a slit in Valletta's fortifications".
The slit is already there albeit filled by an ugly 'City Gate' which is out of character with Valletta's architecture. Wait until the whole project is completed, then realize Renzo Piano's vision, and comment later.
g. scerri
Dec 10th 2009, 13:10
Tell that to the MEPA's cultural directorate who have given the project their blessing . It would also be interesting to readers to learn who sits on that committee.
Ivan Blix
Dec 10th 2009, 11:17
Absolutely the best thing to spend money on Bernhard! Jezzzz.... Are you serious? And why call it an impregnable city? It has never been fortified so how do you know?? haha!
Dykan Olliver
Dec 10th 2009, 11:12
I totally agree with this letter. Well done Mr Vassallo. We want a gate not a breach.