Reply To: A city constrained by a Frank McDonald credo would be ‘dismal and prissy’ –

@Rory W wrote:

This being from Owen O’Callaghan who brought us that wonderful ‘design’ (and I use that term in it’s loosest possible sense) that is the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre – grey galvanised shite, with soul destroying interior (with pretentious ‘Rotundas’ lest we forget) all set in a sea of tarmacadam. Take a bow Mr O’Callaghan, your RIAI gold medal and Sterling Prize are in the post.

Mahon Point looks exactly the same but with copper instead of that galvanised look

I’m playing devil’s advocate here so don’t take it to heart:

Indeed arguments can be made regarding linkage of the various issues here mentioned, but as a general rule of thumb…

…is design more important than the economic well-being of citizens at large?
…in an environment that does not sustain the elegant standard of design we wish to see realise, is it justified to input finance into design and neglect the well-being of those to whom equivalent monetary value could otherwise be invested into skills, training, education, homes etc?

This is loose – so putting the frills to one side, just address the questions as asked. 😮