college green/ o'connell street plaza and pedestrians

[Paul Clerkin]

Sadly a photo and not a scan...

THE OFFICES OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE ASSURANCE CORPORATION, DUBLIN.
T.N. Deane, Architect.
'The Architect' February 28th, 1880.

[exene1]

Two views of that building in the street. Not too many pictures of that stretch of Dame Street in the old days.

[GrahamH]

Lovely prints.

By contrast with now, where, thanks to DCC's recent endorsement of the Costa signage mess, Starbucks have just lobbed in an application for additional signage to make themselves more prominent, given their competitor got away with murder. They've finally copped that over five years of good behaviour gets you nowhere in Dublin.

Thanks DCC. Leading the standard as ever.

[StephenC]

They seem to want to replace the signage that's already there...I cant think why. It looks fine.

[PVC King]

I think DCC should adopt a similar policy to the Shaftsbury Estate on food offer; independent is best but if multiples do get in then they must comply with the same rules as everyone else. Starbucks do not need additional singage at this location; that unit trades very well and they have nothing to fear from Costa.

[Peter Fitz]

Interesting that the city council’s latest vision for the future of our city ‘Your city, Your space’ notes that there has been a ‘proliferation of street furniture, signage and other forms of clutter in recent years’… ‘negatively affecting the visual quality of these spaces’ alongside a commitment to develop a ‘design’ to upgrade College Green & Grafton Street…just weeks after their botched lighting additions to College Green pictured in Graham’s post.

One arm knows not what the other does.



In fairness the report does at least go some way to identify the nub of the issue, namely that there is ‘no overarching control mechanism other than a permit system’ for the key players carving up our city spaces - city council, transport agencies, utility companies, state agencies and private developers.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/fro ... tml?via=mr

[StephenC]

worthwhile reading it in tandem with other article

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ire ... 79091.html

[missarchi]

Is a print run for marching to much to ask for?
There are only so many years that can tick by....

[GrahamH]

I see a robust refusal has been issued by Dublin City Council and one of its most informed city centre planners for the retention of the array of distinctly ghastly unauthorised signage erected by the Wax Museum on Foster Place over the past couple of years, including postering in the windows and smothering canvas banners cladding the signature entrance portal columns.

Such confidence is inspired by the fact that it took only two years for the signage to even enter the planning system, and even more so that three months have already passed since the decision with absolutely no action happening on the ground whatsoever.

DECISION: REFUSE RETENTION PERMISSION

Having regard to the protected status of the building and the Conservation Zoning objective of the area, it is considered that the proposed banners, posters, and sign over the main entrance would be injurous to the character of the protected structure and to the adjoining area, a designated Conservation Area in the Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017, by use of their number, location, size and density. Furthermore the materials for the signage are considered to be of an inferior quality and it is therefore considered would seriously injure the amenity of property in the vicinity and would set a precedent for other similar substandard proposals and as such would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

Ends.

It is also worth quoting the Conservation Officer's comprehensive assessment of the scheme:

Conservation: Recommends a refusal:

“Foster Place is an elegant and architecturally significant enclave dominated by the
monumental scale and handling of the Bank of Ireland. The importance of the development
of this cul-de-sac as an extension of College Green and the consistent way in which (the
original scheme of Daly’s clubhouse) and its flanking buildings relate to and extend the
vista of College Green’ has been noted by Dr. E. McParland in The Wide Street
Commissioners; Their importance of Dublin architecture in the late eighteenth century’. The
dominance of architecturally significant buildings in a relatively small area, together with a
pleasing streetscape of cobbles and trees create a special character. The scale of
buildings is four –storeys to the west side and this is matched by a western sweep of Bank
of Ireland on the east side. Richard Johnston’s late eighteenth century vision for the Dame
Street and Foster Place facades of Daly’s Club remains in part, although these are
interrupted buy a modern six-storey building to the corner.

• For the above reasons this group and its setting on to Foster Place should be
considered exceptional and of national importance, worthy of careful consideration and
design intervention
• The provision of temporary banners which adversely impact on architecturally
important elements of the frontispiece to Foster Place South is not supported by the
Conservation Officer. The issue raised by the applied banners is well illustrated by the
accompanying ‘before and after’ photographs in the report on this application. The applied
banners overwhelm the building and are considered ‘at odds’ with its architectural
coherence and significance.
• The issue of announcing this cultural/tourist venue within the city is understood but
it needs to be considered within the policies of the Current City Development Plan, the
initiatives/guidance concerning the quality of materials, well-considered detailed design
and delivery of the Public Realm and with reference to the ‘Way finding’ study
commissioned by DCC Planning Department
• The presentation of the National Library Kildare Street (in the accompanying
report) is considered by the Conservation Officer as guiding an appropriate solution of
high quality materials and design which doesn’t overwhelm or diminish the protected
structure setting
The provision of temporary banners which adversely impact on architecturally important
elements of the frontispiece to Foster Place South is not supported by the Conservation
Officer. The applied banners overwhelm the building and are considered temporary in
nature and ‘at odds’ with the architectural coherence and significance of the protected
structure and the architecturally important setting of Foster Place.”

[StephenC]

And quite right too.... its amazing the degree to which this institution got to advertise so heavily about the city. I must keep my eyes peeled for finger post signs. Thee were 10s of them at one stage but in fairness to DCC there has been an good followup to remove brown signs now that wayfinder is in place.

Now whats happening with Abercrombie & Fitch....dead in the water. I would imagine so...retailing is moribund in the city. If it was coming then surely the time is before Christmas.

And lastly, I know we are all only back from holidays but..bets on how long it will take to complete the lighting scheme and repair the pavement on College Green.

[StephenC]

Two weeks to go to St Patrick's Day and the start of the tourist season and one would expect a bit of a spruce up about town...not here on College Green.

[StephenC]

Works stopped in November and have yet to resume.

[StephenC]

Abercrombie & Fitch now starting the fitout of their new store on College Green. Due to open for summer I imagine.

[thebig C]

Abercrombie & Fitch now starting the fitout of their new store on College Green. Due to open for summer I imagine.

I am not sure what to make of that. There are positives and negatives to the retail influx.

[missarchi]

Seems quite airy fairy... (basically there hands are tied)
Cant they just make it a national monument? Or get a minister to do something... ala green
Does not seem like anything going on in the background...

http://www.dublincity.ie/Planning/Docum ... 11_web.pdf

[GrahamH]

Well, as expected ever since those floodlights went up a month ago on the giant scaffold covering the former Habitat premises, Abercrombie are taking advantage of their prime pitch on College Green by advertising their arrival to the city - and neighbouring planets - with a vast advertising banner depicting a scantily clad youngster in striking monochrome tones. It has to be said it is exquisitely finished - the canvas as taught, polished, nipped and tucked as yer man's torso.

Of course the big boys get away with such enormously lucrative free advertising without a whimper from DCC, even though such an initiative could be used to restore historic buildings across the city if the will was there.

[StephenC]

I have developed serious body issues as a result of the Aberzombie & Fitch poster. And since when did everyone start showing off their lack of pubes!? Should I be trimming

Anyways....next door-ish, Danske Bank have today announced the closure of much of their branch network in Ireland including the beautiful College Green branch (or is this Dame Street?). Its likely to go up for sale...just like the imposing O'Connell Street branch which closed a few years back and has lain idle ever since.

[StephenC]

Came across this on the great Come Here To Me blog http://blogtrotta80s.blogspot.ie/2007/0 ... -1985.html

Check out College Green 1985 without the trees (or at least with baby ones). I havent figured out quite why the whole city seems deserted in the photos though.

[Punchbowl]

An interesting snap of the elusive Bartley Dunnes too

[StephenC]

So after a 7 months hiatus work appears to have recommenced on the lighting of College Green.

[Paul Clerkin]

I'd say some of those shots were a sunday morning ... Dublin in my college years was always pretty quiet of a Sunday....

[StephenC]

Well, as expected ever since those floodlights went up a month ago on the giant scaffold covering the former Habitat premises, Abercrombie are taking advantage of their prime pitch on College Green by advertising their arrival to the city - and neighbouring planets - with a vast advertising banner depicting a scantily clad youngster in striking monochrome tones. It has to be said it is exquisitely finished - the canvas as taught, polished, nipped and tucked as yer man's torso.

Of course the big boys get away with such enormously lucrative free advertising without a whimper from DCC, even though such an initiative could be used to restore historic buildings across the city if the will was there.

According to the Irish Times...

The Dublin banner has drawn criticism on grounds of taste, and council officials are investigating whether the four-storey advertisement complies with planning regulations.

The full story on the A&F phenomenon here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/wee ... 29446.html

Right, I'm off to the gym...

[StephenC]

Re the new A&F store - A planning application has now been lodged to retain the building wrap advertising for a further 6 months while the facade is cleaned and restored. Wasnt it cleaned and restored in 2006 when Habitat moved in?

[Morlan]

Yer man in the nip has been taken down from College Green. Anything to do with DCC?

When are they going to sort out the rest of the trashy signage in the ACAs? Westmorland Street looks like a complete dump!

[StephenC]

See new post on Westmoreland Place, Ranelagh

That Exempted Development applications for neighbouring 35 College Green that Graham bewailed http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/r ... ts%3C/a%3E

A&F own application to retain the signage...no decision made yet

http://www.dublincity.ie/swiftlg/apas/r ... ts%3C/a%3E

Personally it wasnt that big a problem...but as someone said why not charge for the licence to erect these temporary hoardings and then put the money into the crap public realm here...narrow broken pavements, clutter, crappy bike lockup, trees gone mad...and of course the still to be completed lighting scheme.