THE EDITOR, Sir:

I see our government is proceeding with plans to acquire land in the Duke Street area for the proposed new Parliament building. Over the years, a number of architects and planners examined various locations in the city, based on criteria developed in the early '60s and refined in the '70s, and identified the northern end of the National Heroes Park as the most suitable site.

A key consideration was based on a master plan developed shortly after Independence proposing that the Heroes Park area should become a government centre, i.e., a complex of government buildings surrounding the park. This process had started with the location of the ministries of finance, social security and education to the east and south and could very well continue to the west at some future date.

It was felt, and appropriately so, that the Parliament building would be the focal point of this complex and the location at the northern end of the park would best achieve this objective.

It was also felt that this project would act as a catalyst for developing the rest of the park in a layout somewhat like a mini-version of the Washington, DC, Mall, where the Capitol Building is located to one end of a huge park, the Lincoln Memorial at the other end, and the famous Washington Monument in the centre.

Our Parliament building at the northern end would, therefore, complement the memorial garden to the south with a central gathering space surrounded by landscaping appropriately designed for recreation and relaxation activities.

Of course, one of the main concerns with this location would be the loss of green space. The fact is that the building itself would occupy a relatively small area of the northern section and parking could be accommodated below grade with vehicular entrances and exits creatively disguised by earth berms or other landscaping. In fact, the main criteria for selecting an architectural proposal should be its level of 'green' design or its ability to harmonise with the 'park setting'.

Overflow parking

If any land is to be acquired, therefore, it should be located in the vicinity of the park in order to: (1) Locate at least two other ministry buildings so as to complete the 'Government Centre', long envisioned by our founding fathers; (2) Accommodate the overflow parking for the Ministry of Finance now arbitrarily occupying a section of the park.

Let us not 'bury' a project of such national symbolism and importance in the clutter of the Duke Street environs and miss the opportunity to create something of planned excellence and of which present and future generations can be justly proud.

I am, etc.,

PAUL THORBOURNE

anthorpaul@hotmail.com

Architect