developments in cork

Interesting article in this weekend’s Financial Times about high rise living entitled ‘From rock bottom to sky high’. Not directly related to events in Cork obviously, but topical given the stance of the likes of CSD against “high rise” living in the city. Probably of more relevance to Dublin, but still a very interesting read (a full page article), Link is as follows:

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/a73cf0f4-57c6-11da-8866-00000e25118c.html

Part of the story I have copied below to give you a flavour.

From rock bottom to sky high
By Caroline McGhie
Published: November 19 2005 02:00 | Last updated: November 19 2005 02:00

Tour the key cities of the UK today and you might think you had slipped continents. Gleaming new ÂÂ towers fronted by billboards advertising luxury flats fit naturally in New York or Chicago, Tokyo or Kuala Lumpur, not London and Manchester, Swansea and Chatham. However, extraordinary as it may seem, the British are finally breaking away from their low-rise past, peeling off the old industrial cobwebs and erecting – and embracing – modern ÂÂ residential skyscrapers.

Most of the world’s great cities have been in love with vertical living for decades, their glamorous high-rise apartment houses standing as expressions of wealth, power and success. Now, with more than 100 new cathedrals of glass and steel in the works, London is coming round to the idea too. Swimming pools at 400 ft? No problem. Bathtubs with views of the London Eye? Even better.

This isn’t just a minor craze; it is a serious switch in the national cultural outlook. New, unpublished, research from estate agent Savills shows that 30,466 flats, in 127 towers with more than 20 storeys, are being constructed or are at the planning stage. Pile them up and that makes 3,444 storeys altogether. About 46 per cent of them are climbing out of schemes forged since 2004 and many of the newest are in the north-west, north-east, Yorkshire and Humberside. They are getting taller all the time. Since 2004, according to Savills, the average height of a new residential tower has increased from 24 to 27 storeys.

Next month the wrapping comes off a soaring 50-floor block called Pan Peninsula in London’s Docklands, presented as a glittering spear of “world-class architecture” with “signature restaurants” and 700 flats. From the 50th-floor cocktail bar, the lights of the capital sprinkled at its feet will look like diamonds at night. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, architects of the Sears Tower in Chicago. Illustrations show it lit at dusk in purples and pinks against the darkening aubergine sky, exuding sex appeal.

In Manchester, work on the 47-storey Beetham Tower began earlier this year. All 219 apartments have been sold, even though buyers can’t move in for another two years.

And there are more soaring buildings in the pipeline. The Inacity tower, also in Manchester, would be taller still, at 60 storeys and 400 apartments. Even Edinburgh, that dour Scottish beauty, has hired architects Colin & Moggridge to see how skyscrapers could fit into its skyline, the first time it has looked at the issue seriously since 1968. Everyone is thinking big.

Planning was granted in 2003 for the demolition of “The Shed” and the construction of a new covered stand with changing rooms, meeting rooms, toilets and offices also included.
I’ll try to bring you some images of the proposed development later.

The “old” Shed

@yorktown wrote:

Mary leland…..If I ever see her smiling face again on the paper……really recks my head….

:p Mary has consistantly been against any development in Cork in her column in the Irish Examiner & Sunday Independant.Basically everyone should have a view of St.Finnbars,Bring back the shawlies to Cornmarket Street and leave everything exactly as it is and if possible reverse development completely without any thought where an expanding young population shall live.i.e. sometime around 1950.Mary has a cosy home in Blackrock Cork city which was once open fields 150 years ago with orchards etc……..people have to live somewhere !!!

is cork county hall far from the city centre? i would love to see what it looks like in person these days. i will be down that way next month.

@Radioactiveman wrote:

What with the imminent pedestrianisation of Oliver Plunkett St. and surrounding streets, I wonder will the metal poles be replaced with proper lights as originally planned. We’ve waited long enough for them I think.

It would be nice wouldn’t it. If the “placeholder” poles weren’t all sticking in different directions, they wouldn’t be so bad. Actually, it’s amazing just how many lampposts & signs around the city are bent or buckled. Just how bad are drivers in Cork???

@alpha wrote:

i could do that. i only bought a pair of binoculars 2 weeks ago. i never knew that it could be seen from the city centre but i haven’t been to cork in a very long time. i went there when i was a wee lad.

From Patrick Street it should just be a 15 min walk to the main gates at UCC. You’ll get two for the price of one there- step inside the gates and have a good look at the award-winning Glucksman Gallery. Then look west from around about the main gates and you should see most of the County Hall. (A further 5 min walk west would provide even better views). Enjoy!!!

thanks for the info. i can remember the cashes store in cork city. i presume that is now brown thomas?

Did any one have a look at the echo today??

Had a quick look as went in to shop today but didn’t have time to read it.
The whole front page was taken up with a heading something similar to

talks being held over 8,000 seater arena in showgrounds 😮

Or somthing like that. :p
Does any one have any more information on this as it’s recking my head as
can’t get to shop as to busy. If it pans out this would be great news!!

Thats good to know at least there exploring all options for location for event centre
other than the tiny 2,000 seater arena on offer at the train station but the sooner
an area is picked the better i think.
so they could plan the design for the center and start working on it any time soon.
This building would be a very nice addition to the ever changing city. And bring alot more options to every one in the city in regards to concerts and conferences being held there. It would save alot of people a trip to dublin!!

On another note drove past the new jurys site the other day and i’ve got to say i’m very impressed by how fast it is going up.

Does any one know whats happening to the esso garage next to the jurys site as it was up for sale. not sure if sold or not??