Stephen C. Spiteri was a colleague.

The word baroque has been used incessantly both to keep this place from synthesis as well as draw a boundary where Muscat’s Moviment cannot enter.

Yes, the warrior Grand Master in a baby doll doesn’t really induce reverence. Makes a good ramp for pubescent skateboarders though.

Your emphasis on open space opens up another dilemma;

Given that we’ve replaced space with time, where the latter cannot pass, thus mental illusion of constant space, Piano’s plan becomes insidious. He tampered with the possibility of space, oh horor vacui.

As metaphysical and melanchonic as De Chirico. And that for any Maltese folklore, one which dictates is-sinjuri kuntenti u ahna msejkna, renders the same sinjur as fragile.

If so, it’s a scandal beyond comprehension, obliges to think a future.

Point is, I doubt the baroque brigade ever expected to obtain otherwise if their papier mache’ ever took hold. Unless they miss the colourful cars and shorts wearing pot bellied ‘parkers’.

I mean did they actually think the Opera house could be rebuilt, the gate ditto, WITHOUT the staircases, leave the brutalistic ‘square’ and not realise the result would have been absolutely pathetic and hateful?

If it’s the postcard they’re after, all they have to do is mix with the ‘crowd’ loitering around the terminus. That was Malta then, as it is now. The ones in sepia just don’t talk and wear vintage Dolce e Gabbana.

But aren’t those two ‘Telemalta’ boxes against St.Catherine’s sweet? Just like two Sliema houses resisting arrest by bad developers.

The perit’s monument will be spectacular to watch unfold.

It’s all about shopping arcades with you people, isn’t it? That and the cliché about the city built by gentlemen.

What a pity to leave the arcades in their present state, being right on the entrance of our capital and opposite the new parliament

The shop owners are losing money because there is no indication of shops apart from Birger King which has engulfed the entire arcade. Most of the shops on the first floor have closed down and the government grabbed the opportunity to use them for parliamentarians/ministries.

The parliamentarians will have a nice view every time they have a peep from the parliament building.

And what about the ‘monti’, which will be relocated in Ordnance Street? It will be a perfect match with the arcades. And the filthy floor, where the two coffee shops place their tables and chairs. It gives one the impression that the area belongs to a North African City. The African patrons (no disrespect here) add the perfect touch.

The entrance to the city built by gentlemen should be cleared of the present mess created by the stalls (that block the entrance to Valletta) and kiosks. The original Arriva side of the city entrance is an example of professionalism in design.

Do we ever learn?

There’s nothing wrong with Daphne’s English – ever.

I agree with you Jozef – may be a good idea to translate your comment into English. At least certain people will understand that not all the Maltese are idiots who do not appreciate the works of world famous architects. No offence to Maltese architects intended of course.

Il-ktieb li trid int, Jozef, ikun Stephen C. Spiteri li jaf jinqala’ mill-enceintes u counterscarps biex ipoggi l-oggett fil-kuntest storiku, socjali u strategiku, u jghid darba ghal dejjem li Valletta is a citadel, li bastioned defence exists only as a whole, and therefore the door to a Renaissance citadel is not the focal point of anything.

Ikun Mario Buhagiar li jaghmel zoom out mill-fine Mannerist portrait biex jghid darba ghal dejjem li Valletta is not a Baroque city.

Tkun Charlene Vella li tghid car li jekk Antonello da Messina kien ghadu l-apice tal-arti fl-1566, kif qatt seta’ xi hadd jibni Baroque city?

Ikun Giovanni Bonello li jikkundanna dik l-istatwa orrenda ta’ LA Valette, jaghmel lista tal-anakronizmi taghha, u jispjega li fl-1566 ma tistax taghmel Baroque city plan.

Ikun Nicholas de Piro jghid car li l-antenati tieghu ippruvaw, u ghamlu lobbying sfrenat, biex f’din il-gzira provincjali u ghallinqas ikollhom venue ghall-entertainment raffinat.

Ikunu s-pseudohistorians Maltin kollha li johorgu mit-tourist brochure erudition taghhom biex ikollhom il-kuragg jippublikaw mhux fuq Valletta, izda fuq Palmanova.

Ikun Kenneth Zammit Tabona li jirrealizza li z-Zeitgeist of Valletta mhuwhiex id-Duke of Cumberland jitpaxxa b”See the Conqu’ring Hero Comes’, izda l-Prior of Léon in procession to ‘Circumdederunt me Gemitus Mortis’.

Ikunu l-librarians, il-publishers u r-reviewers kollha li jipprojbixxu darba ghal dejjem il-“Melitensia”.