Interviewed by Die Zeit (5.11.2009) about the Potsdamer Platz at the heart of Berlin, the renowned architect Renzo Piano had some very revealing answers when questioned whether he would alter his own plans only three years after completion.

Piano acknowledged that this was a cruel question because, unlike a composer or a writer, an architect cannot change his own work, once realized. But he added that in the meantime he has experienced so many novelties that he would have liked it if he were given a new chance to start from scratch.

There is no gain in drawing parallels to Valletta now. Indeed in our case the architect was given a second chance but the opposition to the new plans has been interpreted as an opposition to the present weak government. And Malta must eat this pie now. The point of no return has been reached.

After 70 years with this dilapidated area in Valletta, the renowned architect has come up with another war memorial when we already have enough shabby places, potholed streets and power blackouts to remind us of those battered days.

The main message conveyed by Piano’s plans is that the real performance on these islands is to come from Parliament. The artists are left in the rain. It would have been much wiser to spare the allotted €8 million earmarked for the nailing down of the old theatre ruins and use the money for an alternative transport system for Valletta now that one of the main arteries is being ruined by the project.

Evidently Piano has no real plan for the theatre site. The architect should have had the integrity to leave this spot for someone else. But alas, there was no way to bring the misguided back to their senses. During the same Die Zeit interview the architect said that cities are like thick-skinned animals because they move very slowly. It is remarkable that those resistant against all sorts of constructive suggestions are also called ‘thick-skinned’.

Agnes Debono

Kercem