Government to rely on Piano's advice

Gorge Bajada

Mar 7th 2010, 07:35

My humble thoughts behind the City Gate project are of concern because the motives behind this project is purely political and not artistic.

The notion of the original floor plans of Valletta considered to be, that as soon as one enter the Capital City, the aesthetic is of a magnificent building of Teatru Rjal, where Art flourish and symbolize Art and Culture, which are the foundation of any society.

Hence, the notion of the new floor plans for Valletta considering to be, that as soon as one enter the Capital City, the aesthetic is of a Parliament building combined with a naked theatre on the side, which symbolize the triumph of politics and authority over Art, Culture and the maltese people.

Is this what Maltese culture really is? Is this what the Prime Minister Anthropology? Is this what the Prime Minister want me to believe and be inspired with? is it true that, politics, profit and authority are above the Maltese Art and Culture?

The problem here is not entirely of the Architect but of the present Prime Ministers', because he is giving the brief and then point the finger at the Architect.

C.camilleri

Mar 6th 2010, 23:44

Maybe we should inaugurate the roofless theater with the musicals Fiddler on the Roof or Singing in the Rain:)

J Fenech

Mar 6th 2010, 20:26

No to the defacing of our capital with such a monstorsity. No doubt about Mr.Piano's credentials and extensive cv. However, what's good for places like us and far eastern cities is not per force good for a baroque one. What the capital needs is a neo-classic style theatre capable of staging major productions, be they opera, theatre, and whatever. And who is saying all this? people who live such things day by day, not your average coffeemorinng 'criecer' bedecked in gold bracelets and blond-dyed hair!
Dear PM, go for what the capital sorely needs, and not some weird contraption which is useless for most of the year(cold weather in winter and fireworks bangs in summer)

colin stanley

Mar 6th 2010, 19:42

@ J.Ablela. are you one of those people ,with red velvet sofas, because most of us are not.
@ Joseph Cauchi, did you really believe that everyone in M alta is ignorant ? do you think that our architects in Malta are not capable to build something like that, where is , IL FIDUCJA FIL HADDIEM MALTI. and what about the Pompidou Centre in Paris to me it looks like an apartment block covered on the outside with large water pipes

philip martin

Mar 6th 2010, 18:48

As the Prime Minister is so keen on the open air, why not make the new houses of parliament open air, and enclose the new theatre with a proper roof ?

Jean-Pierre Aquilina

Mar 6th 2010, 17:37

An who is Piano to decide what the theatre should look and be like? Is Piano a master of all trades, with better knowledge of art and culture than those who work in it and share it with all of us? Did he take into account the relentless assault of petards in summer? the prevailing NW wind? the humidity levels? and lots of other factors which the experts in the field have expressed?

I thought that in a democracy the Prime Minister and the Government listen to the people. But I was mistaken. The Prime Minister prefers to listen to Piano on this matter rather than to the people who elected him to power ... and who will be paying for the project.

Mario Philip Azzopardi

Mar 6th 2010, 17:01

“Roofless theatre decision in Piano’s hands, PM says”
Dear Mr. Piano, this subject, what to do with the ROH site is of paramount in importance vis a vis our heritage, our aspirations, our emotional and artistic needs. We know what these are, obviously you don’t. How could you, you did not consult us. We are ashamed of your design Mr. Piano. It’s about time we say this publically. It hurts us. When we compare what we had to what you are being told to force down our throats, we feel cheated. As a human being you will be the first to admit that you are not infallible. This time you have failed. Hey, we all have bad hair days!!! This planned congregation area (not a theatre) will not do justice to your other masterworks.
The right thing to do would be for you Maestro Renzo Piano to distance yourself from this mess and resign. Please Mr. Piano, resign the commission. For your own sake. For our sake. Your name is now being bandied about in derision. You do not need or deserve that. Dear Mr Piano, with due respoect, please cease and desist.

George Manduca

Mar 6th 2010, 16:42

As the quick-witted Mario Azzopardi recently noted, this latest Renzo Piano proposal has now degenerated into a veritable "Opera Buffa" of megalithic proportions. All we get are, a bunch of complementary front-row tickets to watch this contemptible, politically-infested show unfold. This may be the first and, I fear, the last show to be held AT - or I should say - AT THE EXPENSE OF our beloved Royal Opera House.

What started off as the exquisitely exciting prospect of having our Theater (and city) back on the national agenda, is increasingly growing into an injurious debacle at the expense of Maltese National Pride. As time passes and hope fades, deep dismay and disgust fills the space left in the hearts of the Maltese.

I pride myself for being a respected patron of Opera at many theaters all over the world. If this charade keeps going any further in all the wrong directions, the only urge I get, is to dissociate myself from it as far as I possibly can. You will NEVER see my face in that Roof-less and Soul-less Theater - EVER AGAIN!.. Gonzi can kiss my once-faithful vote GOOD-BYE!

Joanne Micallef

Mar 6th 2010, 16:34

We're paying for this and therefore the Goverment should listen to us and not to the architect.

Joseph Cauchi

Mar 6th 2010, 16:33

On reading the comments in these columns, I am more than convinced that Malta is the envy of the world when it comes to the number of “experts” in the field of architecture!

Who needs people like Mr. Renzo Piano when we have these home-grown “experts”?

Mamma Mia, what PRETENTIONS!

JC.

Joseph (Joe) Grima

Mar 6th 2010, 16:25

@L Galea, W Scicluna, Patrick Bellia, Sabrina Borda,Franco Farrugia. You have me lost for words. I could not have expressed better my own feelings at this Gonzi folly which has managed to derail one of the world's leading architects. I don't blame Piano for this mess. I blame no one else but our Pruzuntuz Prime Minsiter who, because he holds the purse strings, , wanted to give Piano his own diletantesque brief. To Prof Piano: The Maltese will remember you with honour if you listen to what they are saying. After all Gonzi is paying you from our money. You should treat him the same way we do : as a dilettante in everything he does. Without wanting to sound patronising like Gonzi, my feeling is that it would be wise to follow the guildelines that are being expressed by the public in general and by some of our intelligentia in particular. The Maltese are dead set against a roofless theatre. The gateway to Valletta is not considered to be that hot either and having Parliament where you designed it seems to be off-putting for the majority. Time to rethink keeping Gonzi out of the equation
Former Minister of Tourism

Franco Farrugia

Mar 6th 2010, 14:50

Ara naqra taf ... mela l-Gvern jaghmilha ta' arbitru bejn Malta kollha fuq naha, u Piano fuq nah'ohra ... u min 'jirbah'? Piano!
Ara kemm ahna arroganti u patronizzanti!

Sabrina Borda

Mar 6th 2010, 14:48

What does Mr Piano care if we share the open, damp, dusty, hot or cold theatre with the filthy pigeons as we sit upon pigeon crap as many do whilst trying to have an outdoor coffee in Piazza Regina, where pigeons stroll on tables. He will still get paid by the Maltese people. Who ever takes this bad decision doen't really give two hoots as long as he feels and thinks that he looks good with Mr Piano. The truth is he is not really saving face or helping Valletta being pressured this way by some architect or his own hard headedness to do what is just wrong.

Patrick Bellia

Mar 6th 2010, 14:35

Teatru uniku fid dinja...... bla saqaf, immagina id dar tieghi bla saqaf......imma dik ikun ghamilili piano..... bhala ma jkunx hawn zgur......mela hawn x imkien fid dinja li bini ma ghandux saqaf ma tridtx tkun xi genju biex tinduna li mhux sew l ewwel nett mhux ghall atturi, apparat etc, imma anke bhall seats biex xemx tas sajf ukoll jitterew ghax kollox ghall elementi, lanqas haqq il flus li jintefqu ghalih. ghadna kif ghamilna saqaf lit tempji ta hagar qim biex jigu protteti mill elementi ghax kienu qed jiterew u dan mhu ha naghmlulu xejn

w.scicluna

Mar 6th 2010, 14:19

What a hard headed prime minister we have! Dear Gonzi, we are TIRED of you and your cowboy attitude. Is this a democracy or not???? At the rate that we are going, we will soon need a modern age Robin Hood who steals from the rich to give to the poor!

lgalea

Mar 6th 2010, 14:07

John Schembri The PN was always the partit tas-sinjuri.
As for Piano, now the ball is in your court. You should know by now that the vast majority of Maltese citizens do NOT want your stupid idea of a roofless theatre. So if you continue with this idiotic idea YOU will long be remembered as the CHIEF VANDAL who together with our Prime Minister VANDAL VANDALIZED our capital city with your stupid project. And the vast majority also do NOT want your Parliament on stilts as used by CLOWNS in circuses and the breach in the wall of a FORTIFIED city. Keep your stupid projects to yourself Piano.

S. Pulis

Mar 6th 2010, 14:01

Lawrence Fenech
Le siehbi mhux torox. It-torox tkellimhom bis-sinjali u jifhmuk! Din suppervja grassa!

Astrid Vella

Mar 6th 2010, 13:53

@ JV Grech.Re your suggestion:These three combined areas will produce a big enough site to build:
-- an Arts and Community Centre where Operatic and other Shows may be produced.
--very probably there will be ample space left for a modern Parliament to be built if this is necessary.

While I agree that expanding the theatre footprint to include part of Ordinance Street and Freedom Square will allow us to create a far better theatre, operators in the field point to increased theatre facilities that could be accommodated to ensure the success of the theatre such as rehearsal rooms, classes, a restaurant etc.Rather than Parliament,I would far rather finally see a decent national library in such a publicly-accessible space,as Renzo Piano himself suggested.

Don't forget there are several other options for the parliament,such as Auberge de Baviere, ConferenceCentre and above the Main Guard block.

This Government's heard-headed determination to go ahead in spite of the PROVEN fact that 80% of the public is against the theatre as presented violates our EU rights to public participation. For this reason I urge the public to join the rally next Saturday 13th March at 10am at City Gate.

ACamilleri

Mar 6th 2010, 13:42

PAR WIDNEJN SORDI .......ha jifhima Piano wkoll.........

Joe Busuttil

Mar 6th 2010, 13:41

I guess that in the end you will unveil a commemorative piece of marble proudly stating that this here 'opera house ' was inaugurated by Gonzi PN or officially opened by Gonzi PN or whatever,and expect the people be eternally grateful for making us the laughing stock of all cultured people worldwide. Come on,off with this hardheadedness and listen to the experts.(If the opera house will be finished by the time of the next election that is.) It's our money you're spending you know.

J Abela

Mar 6th 2010, 12:57

Go ahead PM! take advice from who understands the sophistication of contemporary architecture. Don't take advice from your people who live in houses with ugly tinted, gold aluminium apertures, decorated with garish sculpture, hideous statues in their front gardens, tasteless, made in India furniture and red velvet sofas covered in plastic!

James A. Tyrrell

Mar 6th 2010, 12:07

It would be interesting to hear Renzo Piano's reaction to all the negative comments there have been to this stupid roofless theatre idea. Does he really want to have his name associated with something that 80% of the Maltese people don't want?

As for Gonzi he seems determined to be in opposition after the next election.

John Schembri

Mar 6th 2010, 11:55

And this theatre will forever be known as Gonzi's Folly. A testament to a hard headed government who raised the cost of living beyond reason, choked the economy, and tightened the vice on the poor and those barely making ends meet, to benefit the rich. Truly "il-partit tas-sinjur".

Joseph Grech

Mar 6th 2010, 11:29

Dear Architect Renzo Piano, Hon. P.M.,, Astrid Vella, Fr. P. Serracino Inglott and all the others discussing this problem of inadequate space, it is being suggested that:
-the two sites (old theatre site and part of the site proposed for the new Parliament plus Offices) be combined into one
-to this further add the upper part of Ordnance Street which anyway is not really serving any useful purpose whatsoever.
Surely these three combined areas will produce a big enough site to build:
-- a lovely Renzo Piano designed Arts and Community Centre where Operatic and other Shows may be produced.
--very probably there will be ample space left for a modern Parliamentary Building to be built if this is considered necessary.
People, myself included, at least expect some sort of official response to this suggestion.
Hopefully Architect Renso Piano will get to know about this proposal and we will have his reaction in The Times and other newspapers.

Lawrence Fenech

Mar 6th 2010, 11:23

Torox konna u bqjna.