Dundalk
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The corner is a bit busy to the far left as seen in Paul’s pic below – in another view I have of it it looks rather cluttered.
But overall I like it a lot, and it will have quite an impact on Market Square, no doubt about it – an area that is defined in the most part by 18th and 19th century buildings, and a not-so-old familar face in the glass reflection of the new building there 🙂The height is much more appropriate to the area than the appalling two-storey development that went up facing it a few years ago (also in reflection). Particularly like the corner grills, though the expansive lower glazing seems a bit much and may offer an either faceless corporate front to the square like the rendering, or look tatty with everything going on inside visible from the exterior.
A decent building overall though – and here’s hoping it will spur on the demolition of the terrible 70s rubbish to the rear just visible in the picture.
it’s a pity that it’s not replacing the building behind it on cannotrememberthenameofthe street, but it’s not a bad addition to the town. not going to win any awards but not likely to be hated too much either
Thanks for that Paul and I look forward to seeing you images Graham, I think that if it passes the contextual test and was developed speculatively then it would be worthy of an award for best speculatively developed commercial project in a regional town category. As a stand alone building it is a million times better than much of what is developed as offices outside the major urban centres although having said that I have yet to see its context. I fear that decentralisation is going to deliver a litany of horror stories.
A rather dodgy scan here from the local paper ‘The Argus’ – had to delve through the recycling bin for this and now I’ve tinned bean sauce all over my hands, so appreciate it!
It shows the wider context of the building, including the neighbouring 19th century buildings clamped between it and the other less pleasing corner building that was reclad about six years ago.
The contrast between the new building and the little Victorian next door is cruel – not sure what can be done though.Lots of those gems about :rolleyes:
For those who don’t know the town well, the Court House is behind the camera, while the main street of the town, Clanbrassil St leads off to the right.
The Ulster Bank frames the entrance to this street and the right hand side of the square also:
…while the 70s? Arts Office/Tourist Information fills the side to the left in the above image – and not very well at that.
It was on this site that it was/is proposed to rebuild a substantial 19th century building from scratch – I’d say it’s dead in the water at this stage though.Most certainly – they ‘make sense’ in their current context, but when that building goes up the whole atmosphere of the square will change from that of a market town to a city-to-be.
It is extraordinary that a town that is calling for city status has two-storey and single-storey buildings framing its central square (the single storeys on the proposed building’s site), and has a sprawling two-storey 1940s residential estate across the road! (in the background of above pic).
Il’l have to take a closer look at the highlighted buildings before making any judgement on them…
It’s important to acknowledge the strong Georgian and Victorian character behind the camera in the above pic:
…even if much is destroyed with PVC.
Having a good look at the terrace the other day, the highlighted buildings aren’t nearly as ‘out of context’ as the above image would lead you to believe – they actually fit in very well with the grain of the town (ghastly, and I mean really ghastly, shopfront aside).
But whatever about these tall Georgians (ish), I’d have great difficulty in losing the little red brick. I forgot what it was looking at the dodgy image above, but being reminded in real life instantly confirmed things.
It is officially the most charming, cutest (apologies for the term), delightful little Victorian building on the face of the planet 🙂
It’s a little world of its own, with original two-over-two sashes, and a if not original, then certainly early 20th century shopfront, an original slate roof, and tiny likkle chimneys that just cap it all off 🙂
A very rare little survivor of purpose-built 19th century retail buildings, and ought not be touched with a 12ft pole.
Hope to get a pic soon.Wow , Dundalk is getting city status , its about time,
It is far by one of the largest towns in the country for a long time ,
But what will happen when Drogheda and Navan pass out Dundalk??? will it stil get city statuI have to say Dundalk has really picked up a lot since the New motorway has brought it closer to Dublin.
Dundalk is looking Dave, not getting 🙂
Good point about Drogheda & Navan though, both ever-expanding towns, with Drogheda already on a par with Dundalk if not already passed it out if one includes the burgeoning housing estates of its perimeter. Both have around 35,000.
Don’t know what other towns are looking though Boyler, though no matter who they are, by European standards they fall well short population-wise of what is generally considered a city. Indeed even our large existing cities are borderline at their c100,000 mark.
Dundalk has certainly moved up in the world, and architecturally is easily one of the most beautiful towns in Ireland, despite its reputation in the social stakes. It has an extraordinary amount of 19th century vernacular, especially early from the early 19th century when the town first took off – as well as a handful of buildings (including contemporary) of national and international importance.
Hope to get some pictures soon.
It is worth noting that Dundalk was the principal rail junction for the southern border region including places like Cavan, Monaghan and was quite an important regional centre as a result. Dundalk unlike a lot of other similarly sized regional centres has the feel of a planned town unlike say medieval Drogheda or Navan which has got no more than a market town style lay-out as a foundation upon which to plan. Not that Navan or Drogheda can’t be got right but Dundalk it appears does have a better layout from which to start if they stopped building so much retail and started to develop high end employment.
@Thomond Park wrote:
It is worth noting that Dundalk was the principal rail junction for the southern border region including places like Cavan, Monaghan and was quite an important regional centre as a result.
I have a strong affinity for Dundalk – perhaps because I spent so much time as a whipper-snapper up there. Days and nights were spent overlooking the old rail-yard/junction not far from the old Louth Hospital (another beautiful red-brick and limestone structure). It was sad watching over the years from the 3rd floor port-hole window how the rail-yard seemed to become quieter and quieter over the years. It went from major freight and passenger hub to near desolated vacancy and overgrown rail-tracks. Rail use to be such an important factor in Dundalk’s economy. I think people forget how strategic a hub the town was once. Many an exploration was spent sneaking on-board abandoned Great Northern Railway carriages and climbing in windows of the old Louth Hospital – does anyone have any images of it recently? It’s been years since I’ve been up there to see it.
What I loved about Dundalk was the grandosity of many of its homes – the extensive use of old red brick, limestone carvings, hidden laneways and long sculpted backgardens. I don’t think anywhere else in Ireland has the unique feeling Dundalk had – or once had, has it fallen into the horrible realms of feeling like ‘any other town in Ireland?’ That would be a shame – it has so much character.
It’s nice to see some positive development hit the town too however – I actually quite like the new development across the way from the Court House and the old cinema (Adelphi/Delphi?). The new shopping centre proposed also seems like a positive contribution. And I heard there were plans to demolish Dundalk’s own tallest building(!) which is actually good news, I remember even as a juvenile deliquent looking up at the hotel and gasping – especially at that horrid orange sign that adorned the southern facade. Even so, so much history and character is found on the town’s streets, esepcially in many of its old industrial sites, homes and churches. I encourage the town’s renewal but I would hope not at the expense of its unique, defining qualities.
Tis a grand place all right 🙂
Ah the Imperial – alas it is being anything but demolished, rather it has been completely refurbished and is due to reopen in about two weeks! Has a very fine contemporary interior now, but nothing, and I mean nothing has been done with the main exterior elevation save a new ground floor shopfront which didn’t need doing.
You should see the fawning tributes in the local paper regarding the refurbishment, yet typically not a word about the ghastly exterior, or the plant room on top, that now has a fine array of telecoms transmitters and boosters to add insult to injury. A letter is making its way to the editor…
Yes the beautiful 1834 Louth Hospital is in fine condition now you’ll be glad to hear Lexington – in the ownerhip of the adjoining Grammar School following a sale about five years ago. Some all-singing white Victoriana railings were erected around its perimeter however 😡
Pictures soon.Sounds like you had a great lark with the railway Lex – wouldn’t mind doing all of the things you got up to now 🙂
The GNR works are in a sorry state now alright, as is the original 1840s station – both badly in need of repair.
There’s a fascinating collection of railway houses surrounding the whole area – from tiny early Victorian terraces, to later more elaborate machine-brick houses, to detached gothic-style piles – fantastic!The town does have a more planned feel to it that neighbouring towns – very simply because it was planned 🙂
Well, on existing routes as with most urban centres, but still it was devised very well.Not so sure about the new retail developement to the edge of the town – very concerned it’s going to suck the lifeblood out of the centre. At least it’s easy to get to by foot, and is reasonably well linked to the centre, but it is still by and large going to be car dependent.
And as for the architecture 😮Yes Dundalk is very retail-dependent for its size – and the various traditional manufacturing industries are dwindling by the day. High-end services need to be attracted to the town, not least to give it a purpose other than aborbing the over-spill of Dublin commuters from Drogheda.
Thanks Graham,
I really really have to make it my business to go up and visit the place again soon. The surrounds of the town are worth noting too – I used to love trips up to Carlingford and the adventure of crossing the border for cheaper petrol! 🙂
The last time I was up there, Aldi’s were still building their first store in the town out by the graveyard. Hmmm.
I really appreciate the updates! 😉
I see a pp for another ‘discount supermarket’ on the Avenue Road on the site of the interesting 1940sish terrace of buildings there :rolleyes:
Much more significant are plans to demolish 😮 the original and best Dundalk Shopping Centre, and replace it with a sprawling Tesco superstore/filling station etc etc, as well as the vast derelict site beside it.
There’s a heck of a lot of rumours going round, but either way, whatever happens is going to be huge – with a potentially regional impact.The Centre is half empty at this stage now with leases being bought out across the board – it’s in a sorry state now compared to its 70s and 80s heyday – remember the red gridded ceiling of the central area and the glossy bronze-stripped ceilings underneath the first floor with ‘feature’ bare light-bulbs? 🙂
Things looked up after the early 90s refurb but went downhill with the Long Walk 🙁
Now it is going to be in trouble with this new place opening – already Penneys are moving out again towards the brightest light in the town, just as they did from the ‘Old’ Shopping Centre in 1993.
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