Has anyone seen the new hotel? Very poor design IMHO, it consists of a curving glass atrium on the corner of the Green to link the two georgian houses on Harcourt St (one of which Sir Edward Carson was born in) with the new bedroom block on Cuffe Street. It doesn't work - it comes across as three separate structures and the linkage that the atrium was supposed to convey doesnt come off.... the main block is also rather poor with poor use of materials.....

I think the architect was Arthur Gibney

I was looking at it last night. The atrium is actually quite nice - normally they have a strong vertical emphasis but but this has an unusual horizontal feeling due to the heavier glazing bars running horizontally. The atrium is in itself a fine structure but the main block is awful - large heavy cumbersome - exactly the opposite of the delicate atrium.

Building in question:

http://www.archeire.com/forums/gifs/ocallaghahotel.jpg

Perhaps if anyone from the design team is reading this, they'd like to comment on the design.....

I walked past it this morning and now the hoardings are down, it looks even worse. The ground level of the main block is clad with this horrible brown / black marble previously only seen in up-market chippers. The entrance is unenticing and the whole ensemble screams bland.

I reckon the architects managed to win an argument with O'Callaghan to get budget for an 'architectural statement' on the corner but for the rest - it was dictated by a tight budget.

Compare the street level facade to the nearby Fitzwilliam which manages to be enticing even while walking past, encouraging you to wander in.

Fitzwilliam hotel?

Yes, it's lovely inside too.
Has anybody been to Walter's pub in DunLaoghaire yet?

It's a really exciting place to be in.

John

Whats Walters Pub like?

It's a bit like the White Horse on the Quays only 100 times better and more exiting. The only problem I have is that it looks a bit fragile. Perhaps some of it is put together with MDF and polyfilla. It's an exciting place to be in though - most of it is great quality.

John