Stack A

[kefu]

The entire river-facing facade of Stack A has been demolished. I don't know whether this was known about or when it was done, but certainly within the past week or two.

[Paul Clerkin]

I believe it is to be glazed.

[kefu]

When I went back by it again, glass seemed the likely conclusion.
It could be good because the internal roof structure is impressive.
At least it wasn't one of the famous Bank Holiday demolitions.

[ew]

Southern end wasn't much to look at anyway as it had been chopped of to widen the road and was replaced with a brick wall.

One of the policys in restoring this protected structure is to "remove the late 19th century intervention at the southern facade of the warehouse and provide a more suitable termination of the building on the quayside."

Last I heard it was to be glass alright.

The roof is spectacular - The shadows and light interact nicely as you pass by along the quays now taht you can see in.

Photos:
http://64.78.50.172//uploads/pdfs/Stack%20A%20for%20web.pdf


Details:
http://64.78.50.172/uploads/pdfs/StackAConservPlan.pdf

[LOB]

Found this in a press release from Oct 2001 from the DDDA (on their site)

[notjim]

They are putting a pedestrian bridge across too:

http://www.ddda.ie/cold_fusion/features.cfm?counter=36

[emf]

Nothing to do with Stack A but are the DDDA planning to do anything about their offices? They stick out like a sore thumb at the moment especially with the Campshires now completed and more so when the bridge etc. are completed!

[BillJ]

I notice that a detail not obvious from the water-colour sketch is that the original wrought-iron and slate cap-roof is being replaced with corregated aluminium sheets.
This strikes me as cheap-and-nasty not conservation, it also looks terrible.

[michaellynas]

Billj, the corregated aluminium sheets you have seen are the Kingspan insulation which is being fixed to the original structure and the original slate placed on top on batons. The watercolour is now out of date but the glass front is correct, this will actually go down to basement level in a well to expose the vaults.

[notjim]

this is looking really beautifull now, from across the river you can see the fantastic interior wrought-iron work.

[PVC King]

Over time there have been many proposals for the Georges Dock area.

From Abercrombie's plan to drain the dock and build a covered car park right through to Dermot Desmonds ambitous eco-sphere on the site of Stack A.

As a preservationist I am happy to see this project nearing completion, and I am even happier that the end wall has been opened up. I presume it will entice many passers by in from the quays.

A photo would be great

[PVC King]

Preferably a photo without that architectural gem known as Jury's;)

[phil]

Now it is called CHQ. Stack A does not suit its new upmarket shopping image!

[Devin]

Neither does CHQ. They obviously want a catchy name for the yuppies: "Eau-kay (D4 accent), oi'll see yeau at CHQ". But I don't know if it works.

[notjim]

i was suprised they changed the name; stack a sounds great.

[Devin]

Yeah, Stack A was better.

[d_d_dallas]

Anyone see an article from Sunday on DDDA's about turn for the shopping element for the development (can't remember which paper - sorry). Basically it's now going to be just homewares and a snooty wine shop! Yeah - that will really pull in the punters on a Saturday. I can't help but feel that giving the entire space over to Harvey Nichols would have been a better option - that would really be a draw for people to head that direction on the weekends when the IFSC is dead.

[GrahamH]

Stack A is way better, gritty, industrial etc etc

As for Jurys - why, how, I mean...
And is that aggregate concrete facing the ground floor?

[PVC King]

I agree that Stack A is a better name, much more authentic and a better description of the project.

I think that the marketting of the project to UK retail has influenced the name in an attempt to market this as Canary Wharf Dublin.

Ask your typical Irish person where the Custom house is they know, but I suspect few would know that the Quay goes as far as North Wall Quay.

I think that in the longer term it will be good (apart from the name) as it should attract new retail and move the IFSC away from it's current selection of Spars and Centras.

I believe that in Spencer Dock there is going to be a ban on Spars and Centras, according to Rob Ticknell of Treasury the retail element will be carefully selected to ensure a higher standard of retail content.

[phil]

Is that a subtle way of getting a select clientel?

[notjim]

diaspora, don't forget the m&s

[PVC King]

Fair enough,

Same selection of rubbish, and I have yet to connect M&S with a market town or new city quarter atmosphere.

Apparently the thinking is trying to create a mix between the new style of the West end of Temple Bar and the commercial success of Ranelagh.

An M&S would be a disaster in this development or Spencer Dock, why not have an Aldi cat least you could get nostalgic about all those 88-D cars

[notjim]

i meant don't forget to add m&s to the centra, spar and mace list. i wasn't saying it was good thing.

[notjim]

ps, i am hoping for an aldi at the point depot end. we need somewhere in the area to buy cheap packets of pasta and cartons of juice.

[Rory W]

As an ex iFSC resident - I am now jelous that there is an M&S Simply food shop down there now - All that walking to Henry street to buy stuff, grr.

Correct that it shouldn't be in Stack A but it's in the right location on excise walk, and it's a million miles away from Spar and their range of crap. Nowt wrong with Aldi/lidl though