Environment group condemns Valletta crypt ‘usurpation’

An environmental organisation has condemned what it termed the “usurpation” of a basement and crypt dating back to the Knights to be used as part of Renzo Piano’s roofless theatre in Valletta.

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar said it objected to plans to use the basement of Casa Lanfreducci, an extension of the crypt of the neighbouring Our Lady of Victory church, the first structure built in Valletta and which was the first burial place of Grand Master Jean de Valette.

The basement of Casa Lanfreducci, formerly known as Casa Cassar, was until last month used by the Maltese Association of the Knights of the Order of St John. The building was leased for 50 years in 1991 and was restored by the Order.

Excavation works carried out in the basement was halted when skeletal remains, probably of knights, were found.

According to the government, which terminated the Order’s lease last month, the space will be used as backstage facilities, incorporating changing rooms, showers, toilets, a storage area for instruments and a resting place for artistes. The space was “crucial” for the project as it would avoid an excessive excavation in the Auberge D’Italie area, a government spokesman had said.

But the FAA pointed out the basement had a unique vaulting structure and an ancient water drainage system that would be severely impacted by the planned works.

“It has become normal practice for developers – in this case the government – to extend the footprint of an initial application by submitting subsequent applications,” the organisation said.

It pointed out that another two applications and a development notice order were “slipped” in with the original planning application. “The irony of all this is that enormous backstage facilities are being created for a non-theatre,” the organisations said.