The €1.6 million re-design of Castille Square has come under fire from prominent architects.
While welcoming the decision to pedestrianise the space, they argue that a much better design could have been produced had the government issued a public call.
Designed by the Works Department, the project was unveiled by the government on Monday and must be finished by next November’s Commonwealth Summit.
Chris Briffa, named one of the top 40 European architects under 40 in 2012, said even a first-year architecture student would have come up with a better design.
“This is a very rash, immature design, without a concept, for one of the most important piazzas in the country,” he said.
Mr Briffa also criticised the choice of street furniture, saying the triangular benches, round fountains, domino-esque bollards and Japanese lanterns was more like a sketch for a “tasteless front garden”.
The makeover of such a prominent spot in the capital, he argued, should have been decided following a public call based on a detailed brief about the desired uses and functions of the area.
This is a very rash, immature design
“Malta’s most important front garden of the most important building should have been treated better.”
Alex Torpiano, dean of the Faculty of the Built Environment at the University of Malta, said it was a pity that again Maltese architects had not been given the opportunity to showcase their talents.
He described the design as “rather stale”. But having the best local talent compete and pour in their ideas would have guaranteed a much better result.
“This is how a world renowned architect like Renzo Piano rose to prominence, but it seems that such opportunities in Malta will never come,” he said.
The plan for Castille Square is to do away with the roundabout, turning the space into a pedestrian zone and giving more prominence to the baroque features of the Auberge de Castille. While the current design only incorporates the two existing statues, dedicated to Manuel Dimech and former Prime Minister George Borg Olivier, Principal Permanent Secretary Mario Cutajar said on Monday that all monuments to former prime ministers would be relocated to the square.
Urban planner and architectural historian Conrad Thake yesterday expressed reservations over this proposal.
“The idea of having an array of political monuments in such a prominent place is passé, as even the monument to the late Margaret Thatcher was erected in the House of Commons, in its own context. Such overkill does not make sense in a democratic space,” he said. Confirming his judgment was based only on the two artistic impressions published in the media, he welcomed having public spaces for pedestrians.
However, he expressed reservations about “the rather intrusive design”, with its intricate diagonals and obtrusive light fittings at the centre, which would detract from visitors’ appreciation of the baroque features of Castille.
“Other lighting options without the use of such large structures could have been sought,” he said.
Prof. Thake echoed the view that rather than having an in-house design it would have been better to organise a local architectural competition and seek different design solutions in response to a well-articulated design brief.
“After all, in terms of urban spaces, this is Valletta’s equivalent of the Campidoglio, so to speak, and the design should be of the highest possible standard.”
When asked, the Chamber of Architects declined to pass judgment on the design but said there should have been public consultations before finalising the plans.
“We wish that the public debate on our infrastructure starts sooner rather than later,” Chamber president Chris Mintoff said.