Frank Imdahl
NEW OPERA VALLETTA. FH Aachen (Germany)
60 years ago, during the 2. World War the `German Airforce´destroyed the `ROYAL OPERA HOUSE OF MALTA´. Now the idea is to give back this square its cultural identity.
Urban Development Concept
The concept is to give the entrance to the city of Valletta a revalorization. This can be done by transfiguring the bodering buildings and areas through partial demolition and reorganization.This area should be the pivot between the different landscape levels. This is done by placing generious steps, ramps and a terraced footpath as a connection between the city and the none used ditch which surrounds the town. This ditch is redesigned into a public park. That means the general public can now use it which was not the case before. The square in front of the opera is covered with a raster of palm trees that serve as a shade . It reflects the corners and passages of the city of valletta and enbeds itself in the orthogonal street shape of valletta . This square now leads to the new entrance of the museum which is now located at the transformed side of it.
Building Structure
The opera orientates towards the street due to its open fassade (movement of interieur and exterieur space).The front elevation consists of rows of double pillars which are arranged closely to each other to spent shade. The side elevations consist of punched plates of local maltese lime stone with a system of natural air ventillation. Between this skin and the stall we find a generous multiple storey foyer. The way to the cenral homogeneous stall with its four boxes goes through a walkway which is floating above the foyer. To get an optimal usage ( capacity up to 1500 guests) of the opera for various activities (concerts,fairs etc.) flexible spirallifters were placed below stage, orchestra pit and stall.
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