Abbey Theatre to be located in the GPO

[missarchi]

Simon says steven

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2010/0311/1224266044715.html

[tommyt]

And so it rumbles on...

Call for clarity on Abbey move to GPO

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0625/1224273269999.html

[StephenC]

zzzzz

[gunter]

''Ms Hanafin said a feasibility group involving the key stakeholders had been set up and had begun an assessment of the GPO complex to ascertain if it was a feasible location for the redeveloped national theatre''.

feasibility group . . . feasible location . . . feasibility study . . . fees, fees, fees

. . . . and when everyone's done feeding at the trough, it will still come down to the simple question; is this a good idea, or is it a bad idea? and that's the decision that should have been made at the start.

[Paul Clerkin]

Abbey Theatre to close for nine weeks after asbestos discovered in building
http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0509/abbey-theatre-asbestos.html

[gunter]

When I read that first, I thought it said an albatross had been discovered in the building.

[Cathal Dunne]

When I read that first, I thought it said an albatross had been discovered in the building.

Now that would be dramatic!

I remember going to Belvedere College to see a production of a play - they have a great theatre there so it's only natural that they'd use it.

[StephenC]

So the wheel comes full circle and we are back to the Abbey Theatre of Abbey Street (or more properly Marlborough Street) and now with the potential of frontage to the river. The Abbey today confirmed that it has bought 15-17 Eden Quay (which archiseekers might remember it originally wanted to buy but then it let the cat out of the bag in the middle of a property bubble and the owner upped the price to ridiculous heights).

It seems a sensible outcome to me. The best place for the Abbey after the saga of where it should move to that has gone on over 10 years.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/bre ... ing33.html

[Paul Clerkin]

I would imagine that they'll want to remove those buildings now (even though they're WSC facades) as any architectural competition is going to produce lots of landmark buildings on the riverfront concepts.

http://archiseek.com/2010/1829-dublin-s ... GRx5Y1lTqI

[aj]

Looks like the facades are on the list of protected structures so it will be interesting to see how they square that circle.

Either way it has to be good for Eden Quay.

I would also assume that the laneway along the side of the Abbey will be closed at one end post any redevelopment. This can only be a good thing given the rampant drug abuse in that area.

[Punchbowl]

I can see no reason why the shouldn't keep the corner buildings and use as a lobby/reception area - in fact, I'd be pretty sure they will

[StephenC]

I agree. They would probably work out well for elements like shop, bar, offices etc.

I cant imagine there'll will be much appetite to fund a major new building on the site.

Incidentally, 15-17 Eden Quay looking decidedly worse for wear than your picture Paul.

[Paul Clerkin]

With devils advocate hat on, retaining the existing buildings while adding the lane (Old Abbey Street I think, although Google Maps seems to believe its called Lower Abbey Street) probably doesn't increase the footprint of the site enough to cure the theatre's major problem - backstage space, stage, auditorium etc as you cannot turn the theatre site 90 degrees. Although there does seem to be some sort of extension that can be removed behind the WSC buildings.

[StephenC]

Thats the former Riverside Gym, Boring brick box from the 1980s.

[thebig C]

Given that the bulk of the properties in the block bounded by Abbey Street and Eden Quay are owned by just 3 organisations SIPTU/VHI/Abbey Theatre, all of whom are looking to re-develop....its a pity they can't get together to produce a new city quarter with flagship buildings and new public spaces!!

C

[SeamusOG]

[quote=Paul Clerkin]With devils advocate hat on, retaining the existing buildings while adding the lane (Old Abbey Street I think, although Google Maps seems to believe its called Lower Abbey Street)[/quote]

I don't have a map of Dublin to hand, but I think it's actually Little Abbey Street.

(sorry about the above. I can't seem to get the quoting right. I must be forgetting something).

[SeamusOG]

No, sorry Paul, you are right.

[Paul Clerkin]

Still think its looked better without the "porch", although that might be damning it by faint praise