Theatre remains roofless
Project gets bigger
Changes to the façade of a block of government flats on the left of the entrance to the capital city and the rehabilitation of the grubby bus terminus will make the Renzo Piano's City Gate project larger and more expensive.
The two ideas, which were put to the world-renowned architect by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during a meeting in Paris, were not included in the original plans. The Prime Minister said they were worth doing once the project was still under way. But this would mean that the project's price tag of between €60 and €80 million will have to grow too. So far, it has not been estimated by how much but the Prime Minister stressed that the changes were needed to blend in with the rest of the project.
Mr Piano's plans to upgrade the entrance to Valletta will include the City Gate, the construction of a Parliament building and an open-air theatre. Speaking to journalists on his arrival from Paris where he was accompanied by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, Dr Gonzi said the original plans for a roofless theatre were still in place, adding that Malta deserved a theatre that was different to the ones already in existence.
The Manoel Theatre, the theatre at St James Cavalier and the Mediterranean Conference Centre were three closed theatres and such a new concept was needed, he argued.
He added that Malta recently held several concerts in open air venues such as Manoel Island, Republic Square and the square in front of the Mdina Cathedral.
Many, including tenor Joseph Calleja, had criticised the concept. However, Dr Gonzi pointed out that if the theatre had to be closed off, it would be too small, and insisted that a roofless one would give "added value" to the country.
Dr Gonzi said that during his meeting with Mr Piano they had also discussed the use of Maltese limestone for the project. The architect's team had tested the durability of the Maltese stone and the results were positive.
The project would have a Maltese DNA, Dr Gonzi said proudly.
The government was carrying out what the Malta Environment and Planning Authority was telling it do so as to speed up the process as much as possible. He hoped that, by April, work on the project could start, with the removal of the present construction around Freedom Square.
Another meeting with Mr Piano is scheduled for June.