Daan spap~~ al ~TTH A PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE UnU1111 II\"L~ InII uIILLLII I My interest in Valletta is three-fold. First, as an architect and planner, I believe that the urban space quali­ ties are not being used to their best realising their full potential 1. potential. These spaces can be made more amenable to the pedes­ A city is not just buildings - it is also the streets and squares, and it trians, transforming Valletta into a more pedestrian-friendly city. is people who give life and meaning to these spaces. Urban spaces Secondly, as a person involved in are as important as the buildings which shape them. Ultimately they tourism, Valletta interests me as a crucial part of Malta's product offer. I will determine the experience of the city and the image which users 2. am convinced that, in the long term, and visitors will take away with them. our fortified historic cities, Valletta in particular, will provide one of the more important reasons for tourists to choose to visit Malta. Buildings of architectural and historic interest, alletta's urban spaces did not come about suitable approach to the Capital. In particular, extensive fortifications, exceptional by chance, but are the result of a plan hawkers within the gate itself give a tacky image to harbour views and a remarkable his­ based on the utopia of new town planning the City and occasionally restrict pedestrian flows. tory make Valletta a unique city, pro­ concepts in vogue in the 16th century. The viding a unique visitor experience. It concept was adapted to the specific APPRECIATING OUR HERITAGE is not just a series of visitor attractions circumstances,U namely a peninsula which was to be Merchants Street boasts several impressive build­ which happen to be within walking heavily fortified on all sides. ings. Due to a poorly managed market at one end distance of each other - Valletta's and traffic and parking at the other, these buildings main attraction is in its totality. Urban SPACES FOR PEOPLE go largely unnoticed. There is no reason why the spaces are an integral part of that We have allowed most of Valletta's urban spaces pedestrianisation of Merchants Street, if and when totality and our inability to make the to be treated with disrespect. Most open spaces it happens, should not be as successful as Republic best possible use of them restricts the are packed with parked cars for most of the day. Street. In spite of initial misgivings when it was City's potential as a visitor attraction. One can mention Pjazza I'telsien (City gate), Pjazza pedestrianised some three decades ago, Republic Finally, as a Maltese, I consider San Gorg (Main Guard), Pjazza Indipendenza Street has provided an important hub of commercial Valletta as a symbol of Malta's iden­ (Auberge d' Aragon) and St. Andrew's Bastion and leisure activity. tity and as such the quality of its among others. The pedestrian is an unwelcome Castille Square is generally well-kept and recent urban spaces is a reflection of the species pushed to any left-over space there may be landscaping initiatives are most welcome. Yet far country as a whole. at the side. too much of the space is dedicated to traffic. There are several vantage pOints around the bas­ Pavements are too narrow especially when one A LOBBY GROUP tions of Valletta which enjoy unique harbour views. considers that the area is frequently visited by FOR VALLETTA :..;.. ~'-":. :':: '.' Except for Upper and Lower Barrakka, and the tourist groups. The square could be redesigned to ~.e~ ..~ ~.- The need to do more for Valletta Siege Bell Memorial, these spaces are treated as allow for easier pedestrian flow around and across ~',. - ~ . has brought together a number of left-over spaces. They are either given over to cars it while concurrently allowing for vehicle flow by 6. ,-..... <.. organisations to set up a lobby or left in a dilapidated state. Moreover, Hastings means of a T-junction, rather than a roundabout. group, namely Valletta Alive Initiative. Gardens and the Mall are in need of comprehensive Both here and abroad, I find it very annoying when VAI brings business and resident refurbishment. I cannot find a spot from which to get a proper view interests together with a common Naturally one cannot simply remove on-street of a building which interests me. A typical example objective, and includes representa­ parking without providing viable alternatives. Hence locally is Pjazza Regina, where most of the space is tives from GRTU, Malta Chamber of the need for a comprehensive strategy for access to take up by tables, chairs and umbrellas. There is Commerce, Malta Tourism Authority, Valletta. Concurrent with pedestrianisation and not single viewpoint that allows a proper and unclut­ 7. 1i1it Merchant Street Business Comm. removal of on-street parking, there needs to be an tered view of the Biblioteca, which is certainly one 1. - 4. Parked cars block the Association, Republic Street efficient park and ride and the provision of substan­ of the finest facades in Valletta. view of some buildings, and Business Comm. Association, VRC take spaces away from the tial off-street parking. The latter can be provided by Increasingly, spaces are being dedicated to open­ and Valletta Local Council. pedestrian. 5. Umbrellas, means of underground car parks in Pjazza I'telsien air cafeterias - a welcome trend, provided of course tables and chairs cluttering VAI has prepared a position paper and Pjazza San Gorg. that these do not restrict pedestrian flows or obstruct Pjazza Regina. 6. and 7. entitled "A Way Forward for Valletta", Neglected parts of Vali etta 's In 2003, some refurbishment works were carried views of historic or architecturally important build­ which proposes a regenerative fortifications out at the bus· terminus which however, along with ings. The piazza in front of St. John's Co-Cathedral strategy based on ten guiding princi­ City Gate, is still a long way off from providing a is a good example of how this can be achieved. ples, namely a livable city, access, · 36 Architect October 2004 February 2005 pedestrianisation and public spaces, cleanliness and basic infrastructure, 22 October I Amsterdam 10 - 12 February I Flor'ence streetscapes, City Gate, lower Valletta, European Day of Competition The restoration of the Pisa leaning tower: the leisure shopping, evening leisure and a cUl­ Debate on many issues that affect state·of·the·art methodology for the conservation competition in the EU . of the ancient monuments tural capital. Other VAI initiatives include a europa.eu.int/comm/competition/misc www.fondazione·delbianco.org/inglese photographic exhibition to raise awareness, and CCTV monitoring network aimed improving security. 22 - 23 October I Gent, Belgium 17 - 19 February I Florence International conference VAI held meetings with Ministers and political parties to encourage more The Pathology of the Fapade Conservation of International Congress on the problems posed by Historic Wooden Structures commitment towards Valletta. In these meetings, VAI noted that Valletta's role as a various facades from antiquity to modernity. www.fondazionedelbianco.org/inglese residential, business, tourist, leisure and cultural centre should be safeguarded and Organised by the College National des Experts enhanced. Most people feel that two important projects in Valletta are now long Architects de 8elgique. 17 February - 17 March I Florence www.architectexpert.com 2nd International Best Diploma Projects overdue: the redevelopment of the opera house site and Fort 8t. Elmo. Sho w-Competition In spite of limited resources, VAI has generated significant interest from residents, 24 - 26 October I Rotterdam Theme: "For an Ecologi cal Future: Architecture, former residents and businesses which operate in Valletta. It is in the process of The culture of architecture and spacial Environment and Design" setting up a foundation, thus providing for a more permanent set-up, which will offer planning in the EU This exhibition is addressed at Universities/ The European Forum for Architectural Policies Faculties/Institutes in the field of Architecture, membership to individuals and businesses, allowing them to actively contribute is organising a series of events, including a Environment and Design, for the presentation towards the Foundation's objectives. working conference on the above topic . It is of students' diploma projects (years 2003 In recent years, there were several important initiatives in Valletta, notably the Centre being organised in the context of the Dutch and 2004. for Creativity, the Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens, and various restoration Presidency of the EU and promises to be a info@fondazione·delbianco.org tCS stimulating event that will seek to enhance the www.fondazione· - projects (particularly the exterior of the Church of 8t. Catherine of Italy). The architects collaboration between governments, institutions delbianco.org/inglese/lnsertNews = involved in these projects should be congratulated for their efforts. and architectural organisations on the .-= Clearly, there is much more that needs to be done. From indications given during enhancement of architectural quality in Europe. march 2005 ...... meetings VAI had with Government, it appears that Valletta has been pushed further www.architectureforum.net tCS 22 - 23 March I Rotterdam, Netherlands up on the agenda and that several important initiatives are in the offing. 29 - 30 October I Birmingham, England Revaluing Construction 2005 .... =Q.) The Art of City Making: Urban Challenges for World Trade Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands. ...... by John Ebejer, Communications Officer of Valletta Alive Initiative 21st Century Europe Theme: The Challenge of Change in Construction. www.birmingham.gov.uk/acm.bcc www.rc2005.org -= MEMBERSHIP KAMRA TAL-PERITI Malta Federation of Professional Associations SUBSCRIPTION The Professional Centre, Sliema Road , Gzira GZR 06 Tel: 21 312888 Fax: 21 343002 email : kamratalperiti @nextgen.net.mt I, the undersigned, would like to apply for membership of the Kamra tal-Periti.