Sunday, October 30, 2016

House flip: historic Parliament chamber is being transformed

The chamber in the process of transformation. Photo: Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation

The former Parliament chamber, embedded in people's memories as the venue of so many historic and feisty sittings, has been stripped of its fittings and famous purple hue. It is now being transformed into a fresh, bright hall in preparation for hosting informal EU ministerial meetings during Malta's 2017 EU presidency. The chamber's furnishings used to include wooden platforms, franka-dressed stone elements and light fittings hanging from the ceiling. It now has a modern-looking ceiling design and gypsum walls. The chamber, which in 1976 had replaced the armoury within the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta, was last used as a Parliament in April of last year, before the House of Representatives migrated to the new Parliament building just inside City Gate. The plan was that it would once again host the Palace Armoury but this has been put on hold. The old chamber will now be the main venue for Malta's fast-approaching EU presidency, to be held in the first six months of next year. The project also includes offices for people working for the presidency, a press room and a room for European Commission delegates. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi told Parliament this...

from timesofmalta.com http://ift.tt/2fkk6WD
via IFTTT

No comments:

Post a Comment