News | Sunday, 05 July 2009

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International monuments’ council welcomes Piano’s Valletta

The Malta National Committee of the International Council of Monuments and Sites [ICOMOS Malta] has welcomed the proposals by Renzo Piano to re-design the entrance area to Valletta, the City Gate, Freedom Square and the old Opera House.
“We welcome the re-design of the City Gate, opening up the city to travellers. We would wish to see the least possible interventions on the existing city walls and rock face. Full protection must be given to any remains of the older bridges and gates. The City Gate area should allow space for an exhibition of elevations and models of the various gates that the city had,” chairman Ray Bondin said.
Bondin was previously head of the Valletta Rehabilitation Committee.
“ICOMOS Malta reminds the government of its commitment under the World Heritage Convention, to which it is signatory, to inform the World Heritage Centre of UNESCO of these plans at this early stage.
“The Freedom Square proposals are very welcome as this urban space jars terribly with the rest of Valletta. The new building must be lightweight in design yet reflect the importance of the use of this building. The railway tunnel should be protected and used for exhibition or other purposes. The design of this building merits further thought and discussion but we are very much encouraged by the new design and by the fact that the main material will remain to be stone and the side of St James Cavalier will be fully exposed,” Bondin said.
ICOMOS Malta said it agreed with the plans to use the ruins of the old Opera House to be incorporated in the new design and that the building must respect the ruins but also be innovative.
“Whilst it is debatable as to whether the building should have or not have a roof the fact that this building will be built is the most important element above every other consideration. This scar of over sixty years must be seen to at once if we wish to see Valletta really regenerated.”
Bondin said ICOMOS wanted government to reconsider the proposal for a parking area below Castille Square with an entrance from the ditch, so as to offer parking facilities for both the Opera House area and the parliament.

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