The Triton Fountain is going to be incorporated into the new designs for the open space leading to Valletta, which architect Renzo Piano was asked to revisit.
Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt told a news conference this morning that studies on the fountain revealed the need for major restoration work which will take 18 months to two years.
The plan is to incorporate the fountain into the project which will see the 12,000 square metres of open space covered with hardstone. Eighteen balconies on the facade of the housing estate opposite Parliament will be replaced with the original awnings that were used in the past being reinstalled while the balustrades will be replaced with iron railings.
The minister said that a Mepa permit had been applied for and work would start once this was issued to hopefully conclude the project at the same time as Parliament and the theatre. This project is expected to cost €5 million.
The Triton Fountain was commissioned in 1953 and work started on it in 1955. It was used for the first time on May 16, 1959 and has never been officially inaugurated.
The fountain was designed by sculptor Vincent Apap while...
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