Carlton Cinema Development
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The announcement of the new hotel on Parnell street must be seen as a vote of confidence from Jurys at least.
About one of the first comments regarding the art deco facades, I belive it is referring to the original proposal to build symmetrical flanking facades on either side in an art deco manner, in sympathy with the original central building. This would involve building from scratch on the derilict site to the right, and re-facing Dr Quirkey’s on the left, creating a balanced composition. I have a picture of it and it looks spectacular and highly inventive.
Of course, as this is Ireland, it means it cannot possibly go ahead, it might make sense you’ll understand, or perhaps actually look well. Instead we are lumped with a nasty piece of mock Victorian red brick, uPVC windowed Dr Quirkeys, the exquiste Carlton Cinema, and undoubtedly some crude pastiche on the other side, creating a lopsided, poorly finished and unbalanced composition.
I only found out recently that the Fingal Office bldg is to be ripped apart, it’s concrete shell to be converted to a hotel, and a new facade to be built. At last! Also DCC are expecting an application shortly for a remodelling of the Royal Dublin Hotel, and to do away with those nasty champagne coloured aluminium oriel windows, which have blighted the Street since 1968.
Dr Quirkeys is included in the CPO, Fingal Office bldg is not.
Don’t suppose you can post that picture here Graham?At least the Fingal Bldg is in public ownership, and so hopfully things will happen more swiftly.
That picture is actually in Pat Liddy’s ‘Dublin a Celebration’ book, my camera is under repair at the minute, I’ll try scanning it once I get the book.The Fingal building isn’t in public ownership – its owned by the McGettigan family of hotelliers and publicans (they who owned the Baggot Inn etc)
Of course, sorry, they only leased it to Fingal. I forgot it was a speculative development. Presumably the hotel connection is linked to the proposed hotel.
Shopping Centre’s are notoriously transient in their style and appeal – when the ILAC was built it was seen as a beautiful addition to the city….well, er, and So was Stephen’s Green…em…and Jervis is starting to become out of date…
The Abbey idea is the most appropriate and better for the long-term viability of this end of O’Connell Street. Cultural institutions don’t close down, usually are well designed, bring money to an area and contribute to the cultural life of the area. O’Connell Street needs something like the Abbey – and if it was moved to the Carlton, the result would benefit both the Street and the Theatre. O’Connell Street needs a good mix, not another shopping centre with more rubbish “high street” stores………..
What that end of O’Connell Street needs are some night time draws, such as good quality restaurants/bars etc that will draw people to the area after dark, as well as something like the Abbey Theatre, I like the idea though that the upper floors of the Carlton development could be residential!
Don’t forget O’Connell Street used to be the entertainment centre of Dublin.
The main trouble with shops/Malls etc is that come 6pm they’re closed – give us something with at least 18 hours of life please or introduce Barcelona style opening hours (open until 10pm – fantastic)
I agree the shops could/should remain open longer….more revenue for the shops …..more employment for people…. and forget about that stupid Sunday religious anti-shopping lark.
The more choices for everyone the better = a cosmopolitan city full of life.Caught the end of an interview on RTE with someone from DCC -either city architect or manager – saying his preferred option for the Carlton site is to move the Abbey there. Surely this is the way to go for O’Connell Street – having a new home for our national theatre there would transform our perceptions of the street at least as much as the Spire. Maybe then we could replace the fast food joints with cafes and restaurants and make O’Connell Street a place to be in itself rather than a route through to the southside…
Sounds a great idea to me. But what would we do with the current Abbey Theatre and abbey st. They are part of the IAP too i think.
Thats odd because the DCC have always previously maintained (at least officially) that they are opposed to moving the Abbey from its current site. Apparently it was this opinion that swayed Sile De Valera when she opted to redevelop the current site.
Personally, it is so blindingly obvious to move the Abbey to O’Connell St and such a rare opportunity to avail of an important site that I think the DCC would be mad not to take it.
As for what to do with the current site…. how about develop it as a ‘National Society for the Arts’ if you will. Perhaps hold on to the Peacock and redevelop the building over it as a theatre school or academy. That way you still hold on to the tradition of the Abbey (which after all was set up to promote Irish theatre) while giving the site a more suitable purpose.
Or else just demolish it and build a car park…
I think that the shopping mall connecting O’Connell to Moore Street was’nt a bad concept….On refection too the idea of the Abbey moving to O’Connell Street is good as well but I think that may be it should stay put and rebuild a newer and better theatre on the original site where it is now. It could stretch down to the Liffey as was suggested too …it could contain the old original facade within a new innovative design…(ie glass atrium containing the old facade or whatever). It could be a landmark and an another addition to the wanting River Liffey.
Anyone ever see the area around here and Marlborough Street at night with all the piss, vomit, winos and unfortunates of today’s Irish society. It badly needs a clean up.That true enough Greg but I think the main problem there is the amount of landowners the National Theatre would have to negotiate with to purchase the river facing block. I think its about 15-20. I am sure most of them will drive hard bargins.
I still think that was the DCCs preferred option. Weren’t they planning a pedestrian river crossing between Malborough and Hawkins bus garage…I mean streets and the pedestrianisation of the area in front of the Abbey as is.
Still prefer a move to O’Connell St.
Have to disagree with Greg. I think it’s totally up in the air whether a new shopping mall, however glitzy looking, would do anything for the street other than drawing more people into it during the day.
The Ilac is a stone’s throw away and look at that…
And DCCs complete powerlessness over what kind of shops are opened once retail use is established has to put a question mark over the quality of any shops in the new mall.
Not convinced? A bookies is now due to open on Grafton Street. Grafton Street!!!
The Abbey is currently tucked away in drab building in a lousy location, and I’m not sure of the benefits of bringing it back onto the river. Have you ever tried showing our world renowned national theatre building to an overseas friend? It’s an embarrassment.
We’ve already got theatre/ cinemas/ music venues on and around O’Connell Street. Why not create a critical mass with The Abbey?
A rejuvenated O’Connell street could be grand enough for people to want to stick around after their show, providing enough bodies for a decent restaurant scene (lacking on the north side).
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