The UNESCO seal of approval – but Astrid, George Debono and The People know better
Stephen Vassallo of Xewkija has chosen to behave as though his son’s wife is not an architect with Architecture Project, the firm working for Renzo Piano ‘on the ground’ (with in-laws like that, who needs enemies?). He has written to The Times to suggest that UNESCO might strip Valletta of its World Heritage Site status because of the Renzo Piano project.
I must pause to clear my throat here.
This is from UNESCO’s very own internet portal.
“Renzo Piano is one of the most ingenious architects of his generation. Mr Piano’s lifelong work of restoring and rebuilding historical sites of great importance for humanity’s cultural heritage has been outstanding. He designed some of the world’s most avant-garde architectural structures such as the Parisian landmark Georges Pompidou Center and the Kansai Airport in Osaka, Japan. He has won numerous international prizes and distinctions in this field and his work features in many books and films. Renzo Piano’s restoration campaign of historical sites includes the ancient city of Rhodes, the city of La Valleta in Malta and the historical centre of Genoa.”
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You persistent attempts, against all rhyme and reason, to drag Astrid Vella into this matter are becoming strident and pathetic.
And they are not working. All they are doing is to make people wonder why you have got it in for her to this extreme extent.
The answer, of course, is not too hard to find.
[Daphne – Go on, John II, tell me the answer. Against rhyme and reason? The woman hasn’t been out of the news with her agitating and her protests about buildings and this particular project for the last couple of years. If anyone was going to have a comment to make after the project was unveiled, one would expect it to be Mrs Vella. Rest assured that there are only three possible reasons why she is silent: 1. praise sticks in her gullet, 2. she is out of her depth and doesn’t know where to begin, 3. she’s tuned in to where public opinion is going with this one and fears going against the tide lest The People round on her. There is another possible reason: she fears the embarrassment of being associated with The People and their remarkably stupid comments, which are becoming more so by the day. People aren’t wondering why I ‘have it in for her’, John II, because they know. She’s a frigging, whining, manipulative pain in the butt who’s selective about the projects she campaigns against, has no understanding of the link between power and responsibility, and whose idea of lobbying is charging around like the proverbial bull in a china shop. And to top all that, her voice is awful and the typical male reaction to hearing it is to mentally switch off or run a mile – but that’s not her fault. I’ve seen people visibly cringe when they pick up the phone to hear her at the other end – not just because of her nerve-grating voice, but because she’s such a bloody obsessive nuisance who will ring you 10 times a day if she wants something from you. If you hold a brief for Astrid Vella, and you appear to do so, have the guts to use your real name and stop sniping from behind your barricade. You are truly insufferable, and by hiding your identity to insult me in my own space you are testing the limits of my tolerance. No wonder you can’t see anything wrong in Astrid’s reverberating silence.]
Sorry John II, Game, set and match!
Daphne mentioned “understanding of the link between power and responsibility”. Do indigenous Maltese politicians and “parapoliticians”, regardless of party belief, understand the link between power and responsibility?
With respect to tolerance, Daphne, the Dalai Lama is reported to have said that “in the practice of tolerance, one’s enemy is the best teacher.” Hence, if John II were your enemy (he is probably a most ferocious antagonist), show grandeur “in the practice of tolerance” by allowing John II to “teach” you further.
[Daphne – You must be joking, Leo.]
Is it not healthy to start a glorious summer day with a joke?
@ John II
What makes you think that Daphne is one of only a few who are against Astrid’s manipulative m.o.? Do you think that by gathering a few hundred signatures, if that, she commands much attention?
The only attention she gets is because she is so irritating, one sided and constantly out of her depth. Her position regarding the Valletta project is simple – either she likes it or she doesn’t. Either way she should have the guts to state her position especially since she expressed her doubts/opinion/reservations long before the unveiling of the plans.
If she likes what she saw at the unveiling on Saturday and later on at the exhibition, then she should be woman enough and get it over with.
If she does not like what Renzo Piano designed she should tell us what she does not like – but I suspect that she simply does not want to risk having people in the know make a fool of her.
@jomar
Perhaps she has finally realised that when it comes to architecture and architectural history her knowledge of the subject is somewhat lacking and that people who don’t have the first clue of what the hell they’re talking about should have the good grace to shut up.
I seem to recall one of Astrid’s earlier campaigns regarding a 19th century house in Ghar il-Lembi Street in Sliema, which she insisted was a ‘baroque’ building.
[Daphne – I remember something even more hilarious. When it was pointed out to her that there were no houses in the area before the mid-19th century because anyone who lived there would have been exposed completely to piratical raids, she produced a copy of an 18th century map to prove that yes, there was a street with houses in Sliema before that. The map was of Fort Tigne. She had got into the most terrible battle with Conrad Thake, the architect, about that ‘baroque house’, but demonstrating the same deluded and astonishing self-confidence that she has shown throughout her lobbying campaign, she insisted that she knew better than he does.]
Another wise gal knows better….
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090702/opinion/colonising-a-concrete-jungle
Daphne
Allow me some space on your blog to share my views on the proposed project by Mr. Piano. I definitely don’t know better than Mr. Piano in this field, but certainly, I have my thoughts as well, and would like to share them with you and with your readers
1. Mr. Piano is a crazy man, but a genius. How can anyone be asked to build a door and succeed by actually dismantling one? How can anyone build a site by actually keeping it as it is? I do not have an answer to these questions, yet Mr. Piano managed to do just this and with great results as well.
2. It’s a shame that the entrance to the capital city is getting the revamp it needs but than the (pre)-entrance is still going to remain in a shameful state (i.e.) the bus terminus.
3. I can’t understand how anyone can fit 1200 pax in the theatre site. Can someone enlighten me and do the math for me?
4. Can’t the project incorporate at least a face lift of the City Gate shopping and residential complex, so that the latter would complement the new proposed project?
5. I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that the armoury at the presidential palace, would go back to its original place within the same palace, and regain its glory. But then again there is no need of yet another museum at the very entrance of the capital. A public library would definitely be better and involve more people on a daily basis, making this a living project.
Is-soltu lanzit ta’ Balzan:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/06/28/sbalzan.html
Shouldn’t he mellow a bit his attitude especiall after the €88,000 he got for “Reporter”! One wonders, is he trying to be the complete opposite of a “sycophant”?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090628/local/mediatodays-10-minute-tv-programme-receives-euro-88k-in-one-year-from-public-fund
He’s such a sad case.
“It [UNESCO] also asked the government to submit detailed information on the proposed large scale developments for Valletta’s entrance in line with world heritage status guidelines”
from
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090811/local/concerns-on-heritage-status-of-valletta
So?