Renzo and Lawrence, 'I'm no pigeon'!

Abstract

On Monday our attention was taken up by the inauguration of the controversial architectural design of Renzo Piano dedicated to host the foremost institution of this country. Parliament for the first time ever will have a 'house' it can call its own. Another 'first' is that government has invested money in a project that has a scope and a purpose but is also an investment in terms of art and design. Sure, the concept has triggered a racket but having seen the end product, I, like many others who were sceptical, are starting to like this project a tad more. The bridge, the entrance, the restored balconies on the arcades, the combined use of metal and stone, the paving, the Parliament House and the concept of stilts it rests on are exquisite. But if there is anything that most seem to like is the flight of steps on either side of the entrance to the capital – absolutely gracious and genial. I believe that the revamping of the ditch, the 'dressing up' of the arcade columns and the pedestrianisation together with the removal of the public transport mayhem from the entrance to the Capital will echo the beauty of this project. A downside of this assignment, at least the way I see it, is the socalled Pjazza Teatru Rjal - it is boring, confusing and sticks out like a sore thumb. What I would like to see is that citizens repossess the spaces created in this project; artists, young people, children and adults alike. Formal, informal and non-formal events should be the order of the day. Nevertheless, I suppose the success of every architectural project is measured by the hubbub that it is surrounded with, the debate it creates and the argumentation it generates. It seems that the new entrance to the capital together with the controversial Pjazza Teatru Rjal and the Parliament House will keep spawning debate, squabbles and criticism and this is great. This is what art is about; an engagement, a connection and a rendezvous.