malta meaning new parliament meeting place located malta building constructed designs included building new city gate converting ruins open air theatre construction generated considerable controversy mainly modern design building cost construction amounted million meeting place chamber palace palace converted new parliament meetings held opening purpose built site located near city gate entrance building located adjacent ruins opposite city gate shopping arcade site presently occupied originally built houses later station malta railway area bombarded world war station surrounding buildings demolished 1960s project entrance area converted open space known freedom square surrounded shopping arcade square plain commonly car park design construction planning building meant entrance project consisted demolition fourth city gate freedom square arcade construction fifth city gate addition ruins converted open air theatre known city gate project designed italian architect plans revealed june paid piano million work project critical reception building rest city gate project controversial critics considered unnecessary project proposing restore fort saint large dilapidated palaces city converting parliament building fraction cost constructing new building argued square built open spaces attacked modern design structure including labour called ugly building built building design precisely system compared cheese general public design contrasts rest went far questioning city title building caught attention telegraph buildings structures featured potentially best worst building year construction demolition arcades freedom square began october excavation works foundations began soon demolition complete early original plan modified relocation staircase extension blocks changes design facade construction started later year steel frame structure complete early point began covered limestone cut specific shapes italy sent malta workers construction site day cost million build completion date project originally given november early estimated completion date extended september later september contractors failed meet building complete end eventually completed inauguration officially inaugurated president members parliament guests gathered old chamber walked new building accompanied police force band called inauguration milestone malta parliamentary history purpose built parliament building malta sitting held later day building closed security reasons permanent exhibition ground floor open public august piano visited time inauguration structure consists blocks connected bridges houses chamber parliament blocks separate obscure views saint james republic street block floors structure consists steel frame clad limestone stone carved way eroded nature zero building heat energy recovered given mass rock heat cool building avoiding cooling towers boilers
Parliament House (Malta)