Proposal for Carlisle Pier, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland by Daniel Libeskind

[Paul Clerkin]

With Daniel Libeskind’s Imperial War Museum North opening in Manchester, should Dun Laoghaire bite the bullet and sanction his proposal for Carlisle Pier. The Imperial War Museum North is the architect’s first building in the UK.

According to The Irish Times of March 20 2002: Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council will amend its county development plan to facilitate the creation of "a sustainable and viable attraction" to regenerate the redundant Carlisle Pier. The council's draft Coastal Plan for the maritime zone stretching from Booterstown Marsh to the Forty Foot in Sandycove specifies that the redevelopment of the pier should result in "an exceptional landmark building of international architectural quality". In an apparent endorsement of plans unveiled last August for an Irish Diaspora museum, designed by international architect Mr Daniel Libeskind, it says the building and its use should "become a symbol of both the nation and Dún Laoghaire".

<p><a href="http://www.archeire.com/onsite/libeskind/1beastelevation2_lge.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.archeire.com/onsite/libeskind/images/1beastelevation2_sml.jpg" width=550 height=112 border=0 alt=""></a>
<font size="1"><i>Click on image to enlarge

Copyright Daniel Libeskind</i></font></p>

<p><a href="http://www.archeire.com/onsite/libeskind/viewfromeastpier_lge.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.archeire.com/onsite/libeskind/images/viewfromeastpier_sml.jpg" width=550 height=215 border=0 alt=""></a>
<font size="1"><i>Click on image to enlarge
Photograph Copyright T. Seidel</i></font></p>

[electrolyte]

I really hope this gets the go ahead, its awesome! Just what Dun Laoghaire needs. It looks very cool. Ireland seems to opt to build buildings and structures of bland designs that really wont stand the transcience of time very well, this structure could be equally impressive in 50 years, as it would be if constructed tomorrow. Please build it!

[fergalr]

Pity it didn't get the go-ahead, though I think it was the public's choice. Instead we're going for the runner up. That's how we approach architecture in the 21st century.

[notjim]

I don't know what you mean fergair, there was a competition and henegan+peng won and I think the better building won; certainly there was no one really suggesting that the h+p choice was cowardly or backward looking, it was bold design. However, since then there seems to have been a problem with the developer and some disagreement between the council and the developer and maybe at the moment the situation is that nothing is going ahead.