The wisdom of the people
These comments appear below the report on the visit to Malta by people from Renzo Piano’s office, on www.timesofmalta.com
lgalea (2 hours, 16 minutes ago)
Can Gonzipn be so lackey to foreigners as to handpick a foreign architect and not open a competition for Maltese architects? No surprise on this as the Gonzipn party has long been known for its submissiveness and lackeyism for foreigners. How can Gonzipn award a contract worth millions by direct order and not call for an expression of interest with a transparent public award for the bidders and the general public?
SHAME on YOU Gonzipn.
SHAME and SHAME AGAIND Delia (2 hours, 58 minutes ago)
That was quick. It certaily seems that this Renzo Piano does not want to loose this job!!!!JOE BORG (3 hours, 15 minutes ago)
How come Renzo Piano has been hand picked and apparently awarded a direct order, without any call from interested parties????
And isn’t there any Maltese architect who is capable of drawing the plans for this project????
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I give up! Anyone know a quick way one can change nationality? One day I was proud to be Maltese….
Do they at least know who Piano is or do they think it’s a musical instrument? Daphne, I still think John S T is right so I beg to differ on this one. How about Piano designing a MOMA outside Valletta paid for by a private foundation set up for this. I’m sure private sponsors can be found. Think of all that money invested abroad they spoke about this week….
Distorted national pride, and siege mentality at its best.
Being nationally proud does not mean to be against anything foreign (the term ‘l-indhil barrani’ is still struck in people’s mind), but being more respectful of what’s left of the Maltese culture and environment.
I am sure that the people who write the comments against il-barrani are the first ones to throw their fridges in the countryside, uproot any tree that might damage their beloved pavement, and get upset if they do not obtain a permit to knock down an old house and build a ‘modern’ block of apartments.
I cannot believe that people can show such crass ignorance. Direct order?? Renzo Piano lose (not loose) his job?? Do they know that we NEED Renzo Piano? He certainly doesn’t need us. Nobody in Malta can match up to the genius that is Renzo Piano – most probably these people don’t know who he is and what he has created.
Direct order to Renzo Piano? I mean, do these people seriously think anybody can compete with Piano?
I hang my head in shame when I read these things.
amrio ruhi, if you leave what good will come of anything…
seriously though, I am still proud to be Maltese because of the likes of people like Oliver Friggieri for example…his book is astounding. I will certainly not give up my nationality because of morons quoted above
These people have chips on their shoulders the size of a “travu”. Maybe Renzo Piano could find some use for them.
The comments above reflect the standard degree of cretinism to be expected of people lurking on the pages of The Times website, but they are right in one thing.
It would be only fair and proper for any prospective project to be opened up for tender, which is standard procedure. If Renzo Piano’s designs are as good as they should be, it is more than likely that his bid would walk it.
Even so, it would be salutary to consider that Piano is not without his detractors and that any proposal should come under the requisite scrutiny; ideally, from the well-informed instead of the gaggle of lunatics featured above.
An open and competitive approach toward commissioning this project would also have the useful side-benefit of illustrating the gap, inasmuch as there is one, between local and foreign architects and engineers. As to the whole initiative itself, they should by all means re-do ghastly City Gate, which is the architectural equivalent of a tramp asleep in a pool of his own vomit.
The parliament building is a little more controversial. Overall, I think there would be more promise in moving parliament toward the bastions. That would offer great prospects for regeneration and lend more compelling historic and symbolic value.
The site of the old opera house remains a quandary. Proponents of a museum of modern art are talking patent bilge. There would be nothing to put in it but rubbish and nobody would visit except the odd misguided tourist. As for a new opera house, anyone that supports that clearly has no idea how embarrassing it is to sit and watch fabulously talented international theatre troupes performing in the Manoel to a half-empty house.
It is sad to have to say, but trying to turn the site into a venue of high art would only mercilessly expose how little local market there is for the stuff. Turn it into a Tal-Lira cinema, however, and people will be trampling over one another to watch the latest James Bond film and spill Coke and popcorn all over the seats.
Dear Daphne,
half of Malta is without internet connection. guess what! the submarine cable has goon bonkers once again. I hope, and only hope that in Canada they don’t have the same problem!
Just show me one decent building of Maltese design since our independence that is worthy of Malta’s heritage.
@mat555, actually less than half of Malta is without internet connection according to he MCA stats….
@Peter – you seem to be quite the expert in bilge and vomit. There’s no need to turn up your nose at Tal-Lira customers. They have made the owners quite rich and well beyond your imagination. As an old mentor of mine used to say: ‘Lira miz-Zejtun u lira min tas-Sliema jiswew l-istess!’
“Turn it into a Tal-Lira cinema” – I remember people saying the same thing before Eden Century Cinema complex was built. How are they going to fill 10 cinemas (I think that was the number at the beginning), when the current cinemas of the day couldn’t fill their halls even though they charged peanuts. All it needs is someone who knows what they’re doing, and I bet you could regularly fill a modern opera house. (well, I wouldn’t personally bet too much, but there are people who would!)
[Daphne – You can’t use the same business model for a cinema and an opera house. The cost of producing an opera is vast. The cost of screening a film is negligible. The cost of a film ticket is small. The cost of an opera ticket is huge (because it is expensive to produce). Film appeals to more people than opera does. A cinema complex shows several different films concurrently. An opera house will put up an opera production – of one opera – once every few months.]
Mat555…Unsurprisingly, the usual Maltese reaction is think that this can only happen in Malta! Well guess what? Half Asia is without internet because of the cables that have been cut.
http://www.circleid.com/posts/20081219_undersea_cables_cuts_europe_asia/
lgalea seems to think that the word “lackeyism” is the English translation of “laqghqi”………
Renzo Piano is a genius in his category he is a master of light and creates very elegant buildings. He’s also the son of a builder. Malta needs such a person first and foremost for his architectural influence second he is a well known architect/artist world wide. I’m sure we’ll attract more tourists to the capital city. But I would expect to see some work done on St. Angelo and St. Elmo bastions, too, as they are an eyesore and it’s definitely a pity to see that nobody cares about heritage.
amrio: and which nationality, miraculously free of idiots/morons, do you intend to switch to?
“You can’t use the same business model for a cinema and an opera house.”
True, but I’m sure someone with the business acumen of the Decesares could come up with one, or perhaps come to the conclusion that it would never work. My point being, the whole thing should be entrusted to someone who knows business, and not a reality show type phone in contest!
[Daphne – An opera house can never work as a profit-making business. That has been established several times over.]
Ok Daphne. Granted, an opera house can probably never be profit making. You’re probably right. Does everything have to be about money? Why can’t we build one anyway? Btw, I’ve never been to an opera, so I’m not advocating for or against an opera house!
@ Steve
so because ‘half Asia’ was without internet connection we should be happy! right?
Does anyone know what the building will look like?
Steve: “Does everything have to be about money? Why can’t we build one anyway?”
Err…because it costs money to build and run?
Had the government chosen a Maltese architect, it would certainly have been accused of nepotism. We all know what was said when Architect R. England was given charge of St. James Cavalier and was paid his professional fees.
Steve, we’re trying to hold off this international recession and the last thing we need is another white elephant. The Insiter university magazine this month is really good – they asked qualified people about Renzo Piano’s designs. And I’m not quite sure, but I think they went over the St John’s Co Cathedral ‘project’ as well.
‘Petite bourgeoisie’ or not, I don’t like it when a farmer tells me how to use my computer. Likewise, why should a bunch of know-nothings rule over those who know what they are doing?