Fishamble Street – Arch of Music Hall

I must have a look today or tomorrow, as I have a large photograph of the original that I took back in 1990.

You’d wonder though was it really worth preserving……was’nt it built in the 19th century on the site of a musical occassion which happened in the 18th century. I mean I don’t think GF Handel himself had seen the arch which is named after him…did he?

I saw the arch this morning and the wonderously odd Post Modernists works of Charles Moore came to mind for some reason.I doubt if it originally looked like that when first built, but however it still looks quite well amongst the surrounding newly built area. Perhaps had a neo Baroque bust or a ‘relief portrait’ of Handel could have been incorporated in some way. Tacky it may sound but it would sum up the once musical delights of the old Muzik Hall and the age of the Baroque. To add, have’nt they done a marvellous job with the rebuilding of this area, so modern in style but yet so apt and fitting for this old quarter. Well done designers, could we have more of this please throughout the city as the canvas is huge.

Its fairly close ok… a picture taken this morning and one taken in 1990 shows only slight differences… even though the new one doesnt have the charm of the original’s peeling paintwork etc….

the main difference is indicated, this does in my opinion make the whole think look clumsy and top heavy

That wooden window thing within the arch looks crazy does’nt it. The arch has Art Deco/Nouveaux nuances has’nt it.

The arch is restored, praise be……… Hallelujah!..Hallelujah!….Hallelujah!……Hallelujah!

The original is dead & gone.
This pastishe mock up is pointless. Its now some form of directionless arch. It seems as if it has been landed from Jupiter beside the new apartment building. This is a prime example of how the old has been decontextualised by the new. Money badly spent

…and when you think of all the hullabaloo a few months ago about it when it fell or was knocked down; was it all worth it.The result we have now looks an oddity. The same fate will occur with Archers garage no doubt.We will get another anachronistic pastiche of a thing supposedly passed off as the original.. fantasyland here we go again. But does’nt quirky features in a way give a city character, just like it’s people…….