Citywest : Mansfield’s giant heap of crap
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Gubu Gubu Gubu
Graham Hickey wrote:From today’]I love it ‘A hybred of styles’
In other words it will be as embarrasing as the Four Seasons Hotel which has not done done well and is converting rooms into private apartments.
‘it was decided that an architect would be needed for this phase of the project’
So Ireland is to get a thirteen storey tower that was not designed by a trained professional, I wonder did he design it himself?
‘it may not be everyones cup of tea’
An admission if ever I heard one that it is embarrassing
‘as Spar, Centra, Super Value and Mace have already snapped up all retailunits in the scheme’
Serious retail players
Graham, is the lego reference yours or did it come attached?
This would be the biggest joke in years if the Local Authority didn’t support it, I think I heard of planning application in Saggart that was turned down on the basis of the engineers assessment that there wasn’t sufficient water capacity for a much scheme, in that case South Dublin gave permission but An Board Pleannalla turned it down.
I agree with Diaspora this isn’t Citywest this is Saggart and I checked on platform11 there is no planned Luas line to Saggart and certainly not one going down the middle of the M50, the road to Cork & Limerick is actually called the N7, or did he think that he would benefit from the M50 upgrade?
This is just as ridiculous as that theme park a few years ago proposed for Lusk
@Graham Hickey wrote:
From today’]http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~tbp/Pictures/2003/Lego/Pictures/ME_Addition_South.jpg[/IMG]
However the conference centre is but one element of a much larger scheme which was unveiled with great pomp and ceremony in City West yesterday.
Most controversial is a landmark 13 storey office tower planned adjacent to the centre which An Taisce have announced they intend to object to, describing its height as “excessive”. They also characterise the design of the structure as “gimmicky” and “utilitarian”, in particular citing the use of grey concrete as cladding for the tower which they claim is out of character with the established vernacular of yellow ABS plastic brick. Complete with roof-top air conditioning plants and associated ancillary services, the tower rises to some 49m, just 11m short of Liberty Hall according to an An Taisce spokesperson, adding, “It is arrogant in the extreme”.
A 20,000 space multi-storey car park is also planned, which by established convention in Ireland is actually larger than the conference centre itself. This is expected to be the primary attraction of the whole complex and hence will be fitted out to the highest standards.
The other flagship element to the scheme is a sports and leisure complex next to the centre which can be converted to accommodate larger displays and exhibitions. By virtue of the international clients expected to be attracted to the centre, it was decided an architect would be needed for this phase of the project.
A striking piece of contemporary architecture, it makes use of an innovative structural steel system developed in Sweden and features the largest unsupported roof-span in Ireland. However Mr Mansfield does concede that unlike the hotel, it may not be ‘everyone’s cup of tea’.
Although yet to be built, a proposed Luas line is included in the plans running along the eastern side of the site. The developer is confident that the line will be under construction by the time the complex opens. It is planned to arrive at the site by running down the median of the M50. An ambitious high density, high rise, two storey apartment development is proposed next to the line. It is difficult to anticipate how the Irish market will react to this radical new form of living.
Finally an exotic new main street entitled ‘Palm Drive’ is planned for the complex, lined with offices and apartments. There is expected to be high demand as Spar, Centra, Super Valu and Mace have already snapped up all retail units in the development.
Well as you can see from the last image it has the required number of PVC windows it therefore must have been designed by an award winning architect who is a total fuss pot when it comes to material selection. I nominate this entire complex for the Stirling prize. Although the helmets will have to come off the models for the brochures.
@Paul Clerkin wrote:
this is a joke right?
Who is advising Jim Mansfield, this is going to go to an oral hearing, I don’t know where to start, the 20,000 cars going onto a country lane, a 13 storey office block with plant hanging off it designed by a non-architect, the design quality of the conference centre with a metal deck roof. There is no Luas line announced for Citywest let alone Saggart.
I think John O’Donaghue needs to publish the report into the location of the conference centre he commissioned last year, as much as Dublin needs a conference centre this most certainly is not it. There was at least some merit in the Treasury proposal in Spencer Dock in 2000 inso much as the conference centre element was stunning and they have gone on to do some excellent work since, but this, there isn’t one element you can point to and say that it has any redeeming features.
Even the model is made from lego, I’m amazed he didn’t get a lego monorail trainset just for effect
Oh for crying out loud – I didn’t think it would be necessary but clearly another of Andrew Duffy’s !!!JOKE ALERT!!! (s) is required!
Hope you appreciate it – took me 5 weeks to build that 😀
Well no, whereas I must admit to being one of the biggest Lego fans of all time, I gave up the old Lego building and train-set-round-the-bed quite a few years ago – although theree’s still a few bits and pieces about…
My favourite part is the multi-storey car park with the little cars trundling about on top 🙂
And the one with the kid attending the champagne-fuelled unveiling.Here’s a close-up of the tower block – don’t know what AT are on about, I think it’s a rather striking piece of contemporary design – elements of Le Corbusier to it…
for the sake of the right-click challenged.
that image is http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~tbp/Pictures/2003/Lego/Pictures/ERB.jpg
from this site… http://homepages.cae.wisc.edu/~tbp/Pictures/2003/Lego/Lego.htm
@Graham Hickey wrote:
Oh for crying out loud – I didn’t think it would be necessary but clearly another of Andrew Duffy’s !!!JOKE ALERT!!! (s) is required!
Hope you appreciate it – took me 5 weeks to build that 😀
I think you should have put a warning on it, it is Sir Jim Mansfield we are talking about!!!!
No seriously fair play and I do expect to see this thread resurrected before too long when the Palace of Versailles meets Park West Industrial Estate.
I am genuinely astounded that so many people thought this had any hint of credibility, don’t know whether to be sick with laughter or be thoroughly depressed (although the former has taken place regardless :D). Never even crossed my mind that it would be taken at face value!
@Paul Clerkin wrote:ROFL – this is a joke right?
…he says with a quiver in his voice 🙂 – and this from the Master Prankster himself!
I mean really – is this what we have come to expect of developers in this country, have things really sunk so low?
Has people’s estimation of Irish planning hit rock bottom or is it just that of Mansfield?
Admittedly I’d probably have at least fallen for the sports centre anyway – but the palatial conference centre – with a Ming Dynasty roof?!
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