The Spike

[GrahamH]

Making a documentary on O' Connell Sreet, and had an interview with Anne Graham, Project Manager of the Street's redevelopment, last week. She says the Spike is to be erected by means of a 160 (maybe 180, can't remember which) metre crane, the base of which will stretch from Henry Street, down to the taxi rank at the Gresham, which is why those trees were chopped first. It is due to move on site (in theory) in the last week in November, and in Dungarvan, where the Spike is being assembled in 20 metre lengths, 24 hour shifts are being worked to get it finished & up by Christmas. It should only take a day, or maybe two to erect it. Some poor unfortunate has to dangle up to 120 metres in a basket, from the crane, to bolt the pieces together, should be an interesting sight! Also had the honour of holding a sample of the Spike, it was approx 1 foot square and must have weighed about 4 kilos! The sample looked stunning, and combined with the weight factor and the difficulties in rolling and tapering the massive amount of steel, we are definitely getting value for our measly 4 million.

[Paul Clerkin]

I think I'll camp out on O'Connell Street that weekend....

[Rory W]

Get fjp and his camera there too

[StephenC]

Did Anne Graham say why its a taken so bloody long to get this far? Did she mention how long the rest of the street redesign will take?

[Paul Clerkin]

Originally posted by Rory W
Get fjp and his camera there too

Why? are my photos not good enough?

[fjp]

I want up that crane. I really do. Despite the fact that my Liberty Hall shots are causing me great pain to stitch together (and we're making a movie too - god bless DV cams and iBooks).

Sounds great though. I must try and scab a better camera. And hats off to Paul, at least his photos are actually organised!!! (and he has a forum, and a proper search function, usefull accurate information, etc etc etc)

fjp

[Paul Clerkin]

Must get up Liberty Hall again, my photos from the top were taken in 1995 so the city looks a little different.

[Rory W]

Jeez, me and my big mouth

[GrahamH]

I was up in Liberty Hall last week as well, the city really hasn't changed much at all, still as like bombed out Beruit as ever. Dull, drab concrete monstrosties dominating the skyline, the cherry on the cake of course being Hawkins House,like a beacon, standing for everything Stalinist. Whatever about it's appearance from street level, from above it is truly ghastly.

Anne Graham says the delays to the spire are a result of the strike in the steel factory in France, and earlier on due to the lack of an EIS & the High Court etc.

[fjp]

Paul,

Are your photos from Liberty online? I wouldn't mind a look...

fjp

(good old 1995)

[notjim]

Graham you obviously haven't been to Beruit, the bombed out bits really are very bombed out, the restored bits are really lovely and the bits that weren't affected are a warren.

[GregF]

That's a point which architects don't seem to consider of how buildings appearances age with time and how they will stand up to the weather and the elements.
Much more bright sexy shiny glass needed in contemporary buildings here.......hold the red brick and pebble dash.

[Paul Clerkin]

You're right Greg in one regard, Irish towns and cities tend to long universally grim in the rain. Even the great buildings of Ireland with their stone facades look very foreboding in the rain. Sitting here this morning overlooking the Kings Inns and its so depressing looking in the rain. Its something to do with how the stonework goes almost black when wet. The brick squares of the georgian city are less depressing in the rain. There's something about more modern buildings that they seem less gloomy on a wet day....

[GrahamH]

'Bombed out Beruit' is just a 'Frank
Mc Donaldism', a figure of speech.

[kefu]

I find Irish towns and cities look best in that sharp Autumnal/Wintry sun when it's bright but still very shadowy. Partic the quays in Dublin.

[StephenC]

I find they look best in that gorgeous summer sunshine we get on May 23!

[GregF]

But does'nt everything look good in the Sunshine!

[GregF]

........well bar an Irish Summer

[Hugh]

OOOh, no. All cities look best at night. That way, you can't see the muck, the best bits are lit up, and the grim bits fade into the gloom.

The floodlit Spike will be a wonder. I'm assuming they are lighting it, now?

[GregF]

May not be able to light it now due to government cutbacks....will be lit for when it is first opened and for Xmas too but after that, darkness will reign upon the land.......may not have the money to replace the bulb.

[Paddyc]

Anyone know where i can get info on new spike for dublin. Currently doing a project on it and need all help i can get.

[Paul Clerkin]

Here is info from the architects:
http://www.archeire.com/onsite/spike/index.html

Also search in our news archives here:
http://www.archeire.com/news/archives.cgi?f=keyword&keywords=spike

[Niall]

When is the date for this actually going up?

Any ideas?

[trace]

Should start next week. Completion is highly weather dependent - if the wind gets up, work is impossible, as assembly tolerances between 'can' sections are so tight.

[Paul Clerkin]

I'm taking photographs every day from the same spot over the next few weeks as I'm only around the corner....

First one this morning
http://www.archeire.com/onsite/spike_construction/index.html