Grafton Street, Dublin

[phil]

Thanks Alonso. I must have a look for some sort of draft version of it on the Dublin City Council website.

[alonso]

It's not publicly available yet, but it'll go to consultation this year. I just read about it in the press, and on some websites, including here i think. The Strategic Policy Committee for Transport had a meeting about it last month. No idea of the outcome, but I wouldn't hold your breath... And it'll be years after it's implemented before it's on dublincity.ie probably under motor tax, sanitation, or some menu for a department that doesn't exist!

[phil]

thanks again. Must say though that I am not completely oppossed to cars in city centres. Sometimes, and I really do mean sometimes, cars can add something to the centre of a city. In reality though, the car has been allowed to dominate for too long. What I would hate to see happen is for a whole area to become pedestrian friendly, but because of this areas not in this area become completely dominated by car traffic. If you see what I mean?

[ctesiphon]

So the fears expressed previously by phil and others have come to pass- the new bins on Grafton Street (as seen on the threads for O'Connell Street and the Dame Street bunker) are now carrying advertising in the little panels on the front.

I didn't see the site notice for these ads, nor in fact the bikes that must surely be part of the deal...

I took a picture just now which I'll post this evening.

(Update: I seem to have misplaced the USB cable for my camera. Thank you for holding. We value your custom.)

[PVC King]

They would probably be below the proscribed dimensions so would constitute exempt development

There does however appear to be a wider commercialisation strategy at City level and there doesn't appear to have been a lot of discussion on this which is a pity because a balanced regulatory regime on commercialisation would be a real win win scenario!!

[ctesiphon]

Re point 1- yes, I was being a little facetious.

Re point 2- commercialisation by stealth is precisely my concern with this development.

(Edited for spelling.)

[ctesiphon]

As promised (taken on 20.vii.07):

[Paul Clerkin]

nice traditional irish summer day i see

[phil]

They would probably be below the proscribed dimensions so would constitute exempt development

PVC King, Ctesiphon, I first noticed these ads yesterday and thought they were fly-posters at first. Funny eh?

[StephenC]

Tacky arent they? They started out with a sign saying "Litter Point" but I suppose the temptation to make a quick buck....

Anyone go to the recent Open Day on Litter Management (I was sad enough to go! LOL) The Council are singing the praises of these new look bins.

Another nail in the coffin of an attractive public realm

[ctesiphon]

I don't mind the design of the bins - in fact, I quite like them - but I have problems with their capacity, the number of them, their appropriateness in historic settings and their advertising potential.

So, one out of five ain't bad.

[StephenC]

I understand from DCC that their capacity is higher than the old black units uses. I did mention it to the Area Manager about the march of these bins in streets where they aren't suitable from a design view. And I commented on O'Connell Street where they are replacing the smart stainless steel version with these. I also intend on getting a life LOL

[GrahamH]

These bins are now cropping up with advertisements outside the GPO. What a farce.
Forget regulating private property - DCC can't even contain their own departments in an ACA/SPAC.

It's also notable that the bin model popping up in other areas like the Coombe is decidely more attractive than the yokes being imposed on the city centre,


© Hartecast

There's no doubting the city centre model's efficiency and ease of use on a fast-paced street, but I cannot agree on the quality of design - I think it's awful. Nit-picky perhaps, but the bag should not be on display, and the gun metal is lifeless and drab. The casting of the bin also has an unpleasant plasticy quality that looks cheap and slapdash. The above one manages to improve on this aspect also.

[GregF]

As promised (taken on 20.vii.07):

These bins look good on Henry Street, now that they have replaced the black pastiche Victorian types.

However they look crap on Graton Street now as they clash with the Disneyland old world style lamp-posts and paving.

Also on O'Connell Street they don't look as good as the plain steel cylinder bins that were initially placed there as part of the upgrade of the street and somewhat echoed the Spire.

Why do the Councl keep getting it wrong!

[Peter Fitz]

they remind me of a key ring for some reason ... I'd agree Graham that the Cork St. version is better, the problem is one size doesn't fit all, why they saw fit to remove the IAP O'Connell St. bins is beyond me.

I've noticed a fairly nasty third bin type that appears to be part of this scheme popping up in the DCC suburbs, you could slit your rist on the crude slot thats provided to insert the litter.

[Daragh]

I have to say the bins look appaling. How or why the DCC chose these bins is beyond me. Yes, they may have a greater capacity than the bins they're replacing, but they also look cheap and tacky. And I can't believe they've decided to change the ones on O'Connell St. What was the need?

Have all the bins on Grafton St. and O'Connell St. been replaced with these new bins? At least then we'd have some sort of uniforminty. The last time I was on Henry St. there were about three or four different types of bins lining the street and it all looked ridiculous.

[GrahamH]

Just a few of the O'Connell Street ones have been replaced, but just enough to upset the balance, and many of course right outside the GPO. This is very annoying, not only because of how awful they are, and the visual clutter created, but also because they're replaced one of the few decent pieces of the street furniture that was introduced as part of the IAP. The brushed steel bins are so smart - they look great simply in their own right, whatever about actually serving a function. Indeed I've even seen a few people taking photographs of them.

It's also frustrating how the one-siize-fits-all approach is being rolled out across the city with these new yokes; by any logic the same model is not going to be suitable for all locations, let alone such a frumpy design as this. Again joined-up thinking given a back seat.

[ctesiphon]

Indeed I've even taken photographs of a few people taking photographs of them.

Fixed.

[Daragh]

Having spent almost 12 months travelling abroad I had a stroll down Grafton Street today for the first time in as many months. I have to say I was highly impressed with the improvements relating to the quality of new shops on the street: Karen Millan, Sisley, TopMan, Ted Baker (soon), Swarovski Jewellers and Rocks Jewellers to name but a few. News today that Tommy Hilfigger is to open a large store on the street is to be welcomed as well. Of course, yet ANOTHER mobile phone shop (3 Ireland) had opened on the street, but you can't have everything I guess?

However, what struck me most were the understated, and often elegant designs of the shop fronts of all the new premises. Even many current retailers on the street, such as Next, Pamela Scott, Wallis, The Loft Cafe, The Bus Stop newsagents towards the south of the street, and Fitzpatrick’s shoes had all introduced new, sleek, and reasonably eye-pleasing shop front designs within the past year.

I know the Grafton Street area was designated some sort of Architectural Conservation Area several months ago by the Council with a view to improving street and shop front design, as well as the street's tenants. I'm glad to say that it appears to be working.

What I was most disappointed with, however, was those awful new bins, I'd seen pictures of them on this thread already, but the pictures don't seem to do justice to their horridness. While they JUST about fit in on Henry Street, they look absolutely disgusting and TOTALLY out of place in the Grafton Street and St. Stephen's Green Area. They also seem to have been literally flung down randomly all over the city. And why in God's name have they replaced the lovely silver ones on O'Connell Street? I really would love to know what the Council were thinking. Then again, they never do seem to think much do they?

[JoePublic]

I've seen a bunch of the O'Connell street brushed steel bins along the canal between Leeson street and Charlemont Luas stop. Anyone want to join me in the middle of the night to do a swap ;-)

[GrahamH]

There's been something of a planning soap opera recently, played out between Marks and Spencer and DCC regarding alterations to their store - specifically in relation to a (shock!) proposed pavilion storey and roof-top terrace.

After submitting decidely inadequate plans and photomontages of the proposed development, M&S's clients were then asked for Further Information, which was duly supplied and in turn found to be equally inadequate and indeed inaccurate. So a relatively unusual Clarification of Additional Information request was then made, and was replied to shortly afterwards. Even this was deemed by the case planner to be inaccurate in part, but was considered sufficient to assess the proposal and make a decision. It was passed, subject to a number of conditions.

Personally I found it a thoroughly objectionable development as originally proposed, given it impacts on the single most important (and lets face it, the only half decent) view of Grafton Street, and what is largely the only vista in the city with a 'continental' feel to it, generated by none other than the Marks and Spencers premises.






It looks and feels like it's been plucked from the centre of Prague or a side street in St. Petersburg, and adds texture and visual interest to the thoroughfare with its distinctive rounded corner. For this monstrous pile of clutter to be dumped on top of its urn-peppered parapet would be devastating blow to the vernacular character of the street.







The planner pretty much acknowledges this, claiming there are "a number of concerns with regard to the potential impact of the proposed additional accommodation on the streetscape of what is an ACA and protected structure. The supplied photomontages do indicate that there are a number of elements of the proposed development that would clearly be visible from street level. In particular, it is my opinion that the proposed north west corner of the building in the vicinity of the proposed terrace area has the potential to have a significantly negative impact on the streetscape due to excessive proximity to the parapet of the building thereby resulting in the potentially prominent views of the proposed extension above the existing parapet line... In summary, while glimpsed views are acceptable and unavoidable. it is considered that the overall visual impact of the development as currently proposed would be excessive and have a significant negative impact on the character and setting of the building and the general streetscape."

The conclusion went on to recommend a set back of four metres from the parapet which was later granted. What sort of impact this would have is unclear, nor is that of the proposed glazed balustrade and its location.



The roof terrace, with sweeping views over the um, enchanting roofscape of Brown Thomas...



Nice idea, but excessively intrusive as originally proposed at least.

[archipig]

I agree. I think the DCC should instruct them to set it back another 3 metres from the parapet. They can always put some parasols up there to account for the lost cover, at least they are not permanant.

[JoePublic]

The Christmas lights were switched on on Grafton street last night. The traders have forked out for new lights, they're simply gorgeous, chandeliers stretching down the length of the street with sparkling white lights. Irish and non-Irish alike were snapping away with their cameras.

The Henry street lights now look so tacky by comparison :-)

[JoePublic]

Any of you photoshop pros want to photoshop in the new bins ;-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjRFpmUmmZ0

[Daragh]

I too agree, the new Christmas lighting scheme for Grafton Street is superb, and the use of Christmas greetings 'as Gaeilge' is a nice touch as well. However, it appears the Council could have paid a bit more attention to straightening some of the small candles which encircle each chandelier on the street. A few of them are quite crooked, and some are almost pointing in the wrong direction. A bit annoying, but only a small glitch I guess. A bit ironic, however, that the year the Council decides to go all glam with the Christmas decorations for arguably the country's most stylish and fashionable street, is the same year the most tacky and awful-looking litter bins are dumped on the street as well.
As I said last year, or maybe the year before, I'm actually quite a fan of the Christmas lighting on Henry Street. It's a HUGE improvement on the lighting scheme that was being used up until recently, and is simple, understated and yet a bit funky. Henry Street, I think, will never have quite the same class as Grafton Street, so trying to copy Grafton Street's very elegant and grandiose lighting scheme would be silly. Each lighting scheme complements its respective street I think.