My made in Malta comment also refers to the fat that a foreign architect was chosen to design the new parliament. Are there no Maltese architects who can design a new Parliament building?

[Daphne – Renzo Piano is not a ‘foreign architect’, no more than Wagner is a ‘foreign composer’ or Picasso is a ‘foreign painter’, David. They are world-class, iconic names that transcend borders. A ‘foreign architect’ would be somebody of the exact same level of competence and renown that we have here in Malta already. In that case, I would agree with you – but on a ‘why bother’ basis rather than national pride.]

I also think there is a good opportunity to rebuild the former opera house. This may not be an exact replica of the former building, but a building similar in style on the exterior to the old one.

[Daphne – Is your house furnished with replica ‘antiques’, David? I wonder.]

That is the equivalent of the Isle of Man taking exception to any ‘foreign’ input from the mainland notwithstanding the fact that the island does not have the expertise – nothing to be ashamed of by the way, and completely normal.

After all, even projects in London, a city of 15 million, bring in experts from other parts of the UK and indeed the world. Try to open your mind ever so slightly to see the big picture without your nationalist (small ‘n’) goggles on.

Give them time. The new parliament building is the first experience of a large national project in the short life of a young country.

Muscat has already boasted about ‘our’ life sciences centre in his fake interview to thereporter.net

Why? Because it doesn’t have enough ‘hnejjiet’ and ‘balavostri’ maybe?

Fl-ahhar xi hadd qalielu.

Your comment confirms that the ‘Gonzi P.N.’ government has worked hard to upgrade our country with important projects for “Malta Taghna Lkoll”, a misnomer under Joe Muscat’s party in government.

The final project by Dr. Gonzi was to convince and obtain over a billion euro for our country from the E.U; despite knowing that his chances of being confirmed as Prime Minister were next to nothing.

Hear, hear.

http://www.williemiller.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/proposed-leadenhall-building-london.jpg

Regrettably a lot of people in Malta are so used to the mediocrity all around us that it has become ingrained as part of their being.

Consequently, many do not recognise good architecture when they see it.

I’m not sure if Piano’s project is already considered a “partrimonio dell’ Unesco” as the article claims, but I believe that it is only a matter of time before it will. Unless of course, the philistines with power, mess around with it.