One of the most ambitious projects for this island, the reconstruction of the historic center of Valletta, a World Heritage Site, was finally completed this summer in the capital of Malta.
To date, almost all components of the complex are ready: the city gate itself, the Parliament building, an open-air theater and Freedom Square. The final touch remains: the improvement of the moat (turning it into a park) and the installation of an elevator that will connect this park with the upper levels.
For six years, the project of the Renzo Piano team has transformed the heart of the historic city filled with parking lots into a comfortable pedestrian zone, where it was possible to combine the historical with the new, delimit objects of different levels of access, find a place for both tourists and residents, and solve the space harmoniously and on a human scale. The Valletta Center Renovation project is conceived as a dialogue between the past, present and future. It combines local craftsmanship and modern technology.
The chief architect of the project was Antonio Belvedere. On 3 August, he spoke about his implementation process from the stage of a new theater in the framework of the European Assembly of Students-Architects, which took place in Malta from 1 to 16 August. He has got a fascinating story about joining the efforts of architects and builders, authorities and the urban community in the name of a common goal. Initially, when working on the project, a very close relationship of its authors with the city authorities was built. Maltese was recruited as local partners
architectural bureau AR.
The urban planning solution of the complex required the overlap for cars of the street, which is key for the transport system of Valletta. Realizing the importance of the project, the authorities nevertheless went for it, receiving in return a pedestrian zone along two central streets. The transport situation has also been regulated: cars enter the city through the side entrances.
Goal
Throughout the history of the city, its gates have changed many times - from a tunnel carved into the rock to an arch, last reconstructed 50 years ago. Renzo Piano replaced the gate with a bridge. Now the arch opens into the sky for the first time in several centuries. The bridge is thrown over the moat, marking the borders of Valletta together with the fortress walls. The width of the bridge is only 8 meters, which is a reference to the historical width of 1633; all the later extensions that expanded it were dismantled. So the architects wanted to return the true meaning of the bridge as a structure, passing through which, you can admire the views on both sides.
The new gate is a massive volume of huge stone blocks on either side of the bridge. They are separated from the historic walls by steel blades 25 meters high. Metal is as massive as stone: the total weight of the blades is 14 tons. Blades are an artistic move that marks the border between old and new.
The complex preserves the historical multilevelness of Valletta: just outside the gate, stairs diverge symmetrically, opening up new views of the city and the Parliament building. From the upper level, an elevator takes visitors down to the garden at the bottom of the moat. The architectural design is largely inspired by the influence of the Knightly Order of the Hospitallers throughout the history of Malta.
The bridge continues with the main street - the main axis of the city and ends with a bastion that protects Valletta from attack from the sea. A new meaning has now been put into the defenses of the Maltese capital - this is the architecture of the holiday: on summer evenings, volleys of fireworks do not cease here, and even whole festivals of fireworks are organized.
Parliament building
Two massive volumes of light stone seem to float in the air above the square: the first floor of the Parliament is made of glass and steel - so as to preserve the sense of the space of the historic square.
Initially, the construction of the Parliament building was planned on the site of the theater ruins. As a result of long negotiations on the initiative of the architects, a place for the building was found right outside the city walls, reducing the space on the plan, but retaining the feeling of the space of the square.
Transparency here is a difficult decision, given that this building is an important state institution (in addition to the House of Parliament, it houses the offices of the deputies, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition). Again, this is the result of numerous negotiations and searches for a way out in conjunction with the Maltese security services.
To raise the building above the square, a complex constructive solution was developed: its volumes are suspended on steel supports, which are in constant stress. This design also provides the building with earthquake resistance.
Volumes of irregular shape are interconnected by transitions. Their twists and turns form multiple perspectives, with a completely new view from each point.
In this project, there was never a question of the frame and shell, as buildings are often built now. As conceived by the architects, the volumes should look as if they were carved out of the rock. To achieve this effect, the blocks were carefully numbered during production to maintain a "geological" consistency and then stack them together at the construction site.
Stone story
When the team from the Renzo Piano bureau first landed at the airport in Malta, they immediately decided that it was necessary to build only from stone. The whole island is formed by limestone rocks, and the city was built from them. Houses made of light stone, in places dilapidated from the impact of the winds and exposing their textured internal voids, have stood here for more than one century. However, nowadays hard limestone, suitable for the implementation of the architectural concept of the "City Gate of Valletta", is no longer mined. The quarries were closed due to the complexity of the mining process, and the Maltese switched to soft limestone, which is much easier to obtain.
It took about a year only to reopen the quarries in Gozo and start mining hard stone suitable for the planned construction. When the technology was restored and the quarries started working, the next obstacle in the way of the architects was the size of the blocks: they turned out to be smaller than it was intended in the project. But the stubbornness and uncompromisingness of Antonio Belvedere can only be envied. “I was in London when the construction manager called me and told me that large blocks, as in our project, cannot be cut out. A few hours later I flew to Malta, but did not go to the manager, but directly to those who are mining the stone. “Look,” I said, “how many times in your life do you get the chance to build such an important facility? It will last not 20, not 50, but at least 200 years.” Fortunately, I was understood, and when large blocks began to arrive at the construction site a few months later, the manager was surprised, but he was glad that we did it,”says Antonio. Therefore, the phrases about the well-coordinated work of many people who understand the importance of the project entrusted to them, in relation to the "Gateway of Valletta" are not empty words.
The flatness of the façade came to Antonio Belvedere's mind on Saturday morning as he cycled to work. The erosion characteristic of the local stone creates the feeling that the stone is breathing. Antonio wanted to achieve the same effect for the Parliament building. 3,000 hand-assembled modular elements form the structure of the façade. Their main function is to protect from the scorching Maltese sun. In addition to everything, they form a beautiful pattern that echoes the dilapidated masonry of historic walls. This similarity was noticed later, but it turned out to be very useful.
The principles of energy efficiency and sustainable development are implemented with 600 m2 of solar panels on the roof and 40 geothermal wells cut into the rock base to a depth of 140 m.
Theatre
To restore the Royal Opera House in 1866, built by one of the architects of the Palace of Westminster E. M. Barry, during the period when Malta was under British rule, no one planned. The building was destroyed by bombing in 1942, and by the time the project was launched, there had been a parking lot in its place among the dilapidated columns for several years. It was here that the customer initially wanted to place the Parliament building. But when the architects saw the ruins of the theater, they simply could not demolish it, and instead offered to move the Parliament. At the same time, they were convincing enough in their arguments to be listened to.
How was the old theater revived? The ruins were left intact, and a "theater machine" was inserted inside. Usually the stage constructions are hidden from the viewer, but here they are open. The auditorium is located on a plane, as if hovering over the surviving foundations. The partially preserved entrance group was also restored and the premises necessary for the theater were placed there.
When there are no concerts or performances in the theater, it serves as a public space. This September soloists of the Bolshoi Theater will perform on its stage.
