Has anyone a picture of the George’s Quay tower?
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The Seven Canary Dwarves
Whilst I do not object to the height of the tallest tower, the overall visual mass or agglomeration of towers seems so removed from Dublin’s urban context.
The towers’ pyramidal roof structure immediately refers to London’s Canary Wharf, called Canada One if my memory serves me right. Even that scheme was a reference to the American prototypes of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, characterised by the deep plan, impermeable facade, and an over emphasis on artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation. The Hierarchy of staff is expressed with management in cellular offices next to the windows and ordinary staff working in a open plan core areas with no windows.
George’s Quay seem’s to have all these features with the exception of a far shallower plan. Despite this improvement to the scheme it still conveys the Global Omnipotence of Multi-National Corporations and their $ influence on Urban Planning regardless of any context to Site, City, Countryand Culture.
Hooray for the Seven Canary Dwarves
Any chance of a Mc D’s sign on top
Global Omnipotence of Multi-National Corporations and their $ influence on Urban Planning regardless of any context to Site, City, Countryand Culture
Guh??? Sounds like more multi-national bashing. Whilst this might be a fair hobby to have, my interpretation is that all great buildings are generally created by the richest of the rich (big corporations/companies/governments/armies/dictators). So should we really be giving out about this???
But yes, the plan isn’t as big/deep as other countries. But I think the point that has stuck so far is that it’s a hell of a lot better than nothing. And I still like it. Even though it’s a little small.
fjp
The point about reliance on artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation is a valid one though. Has anyone been in the building? It must be a dreary place to work unless you luck out and get the window seat.
Don’t forget the churches in your list of great building patrons fjp.
It looks like the Square in Tallaght from a distance. That can’t be a good thing.
Each floor actually combines the floorspace from all the blocks with floor to ceiling glass walls. Quite a nice place to work! I suppose you could use that phrase ‘3rd generation offices’…..
All this talk of money, capitalism, corporations, etc……….but money IS the driving force of successful societies and indeed civilization itself ………since the dawn of time …….and it is how we have so many wonderful structures today from times past and the present around the world. We are only new to a proliferation of Money here in Ireland thanks to our boom ….which has since disappeared….well according to some sorts…..but we are much more affluent however overall as compared to before.
Ok we get a cheap copy of corporate America down the docks (aka Georges Quay) but it is better than what was there …..and here’s to Kevin Roche’s Spencer Dock’s original plan, which would have acted as a great anchor for a wealth of money for the IFC, Dublin City and the rest of the country…..Alas not the case…. I remember the detractors were out in force…..and when you think now, it had better potential than what is happening down the docks at the moment……which is one big Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz in regards to spectacular architecture……… I knew this would happen……..and we are a lot poorer architecturally, and materially.
Always a tricky one, this. “Better than what was there” – well, I don’t know what was was there before, but in general terms this usually means that any new building is better than dereliction. I’m not sure that’s the case. Dereliction has its plus points. Scrap merchants rather than bankers can earn a living. It has a poignancy.
Indeed it is the “any building is better than none” attitude that has blighted so many British and Irish cities in the past. Like the early phases of London Docklands, which George’s Quay so much resembles. At least the later Canary Wharf has a scale and presence to it. But in their derelict state, the upstream London docks were magnificent.
And yet, and yet – assuming all empty parts of all cities will eventually be built on, planning controversy can be fatal, since this can lead to steadily worse and worse schemes being proposed rather than – as protestors always fondly hope – steadily better and better ones.
I’ve no idea how this impasse can be resolved, beyond proposing a new society to cherish and preserve endangered areas of urban dereliction.
But the alternative to what was actually built there would almost certainly have been more of those awful 5 storey boxes that surround the towers, rather than just leaving it derelict. At least the towers are something to look at (whether you like or dislike them), and as proven here can generate discussion. Would more 5 storey boxes generate any discussion other than declarations af how terrible thay are?
I know I’m probably preaching to the converted here, but the IFSC extension has got to be one of the most depressing additions to the city of Dublin in recent years for the reasons mentioned above. A huge opportunity to do something worthwhile was wasted. Absolutely nothing stands out there, and now they want to do the same to the rest of the docks, and no doubt similar rubbish will be inflicted on the Cork and Waterford docklands on a smaller scale. If this is the case dereliction might be the better option, because at least it means it’ll be a blank canvass for some future generation with a bit more ambition and courage.
There is a lot of rubbish there alright but I can’t agree that “Absolutely nothing stands out there”….
I think the Clarion Quay Apartments stand out and are possibly the finest apartments in Dublin. (not a lot of competition – Charlotte Quay, Wooden building..?)
It’s great to have an example of apartment living in the city that is done properly. It may help people overcome their justifiable fears based on Ballymun and then Zoe.
The irony being that Zoe built Charlotte Quay… amazing what people can do if they put a bit of thought into it
Had my lunch in the fantastic little “Nude” cafe at the base of the towers… The quality of the Landscaping / Canopies / paving has to be seen to be believed… The claim that George’s Quay is a “Cheap” copy of a typical corporate american tower is proved to be rubbish when the building is viewed close up – In materials and workmanship it’s clear that no expense has been spared and the numerous playful details, such as the fin walls with bands of rough stone resting on a base of glass, the elegant canopies and particularly the “Nude” outlet – with its entirely opening wall of glass – reflect the high quality of design and execution.
Overall the form of the building creates a strong visual image for Dublin. The latest carlsberg billboard ad “bus route” has the George’s quay tower in the background and not only is it immediately recognisable but it also looks fantastic. To compare the building to Cesar Peili’s Canary Wharf (much derided as being a dwarf itself in it’s day) is to completely misread the form. It’s not a heroic prism thrusting toward the sky – it’s a cluster of deftly proportioned elements that read as a crystaline sculpture. viewing from different angles creates different impressions. As well as this the “cluster” aspect allows the height and bulk of the building to blend much more easily into the context.
It’s easy to criticise this building on a purely superficial level – as so many posting on this forum have done (it’s negative impact on Trinity College being one of the more ridiculous claims) – but familiarity (as in walking past every morning, lunchtime and evening of every working day) has led me to appreciate that there is both quality and substance embodied in the George’s Quay tower.
Totting up those in favour and those against in this thread, George’s Quay is winning by a ratio of roughly 6 to 4, depending on how you interpret some people’s lukewarm comments. May even go as high as 7 to 3.
I’m amazed but interested. Obviously the style of 1980s corporate America has more going for it than I ever imagined. Clearly this stuff is popular.
Ah yes… thats much better Paul – Now i realise how wrong I was….
Not!
Ah it’s too easy to take things too seriously and sure it’s all just a matter of opinion. However I do like this building – not that it’s a masterpiece by any means – and I hate to see such superficial criticism of the “1980’s corporate America” kind… There’s got to be more to debate on the subject than that…
I think we need more polls in this forum. People, when starting a thread, add the option of a poll if you think it will help….
fjp
(they’re fun too!!!)
Has anyone a picture of this building (now 95% occupied) at night fully lit?
Is it just me or does this a building that really does look much better when lit?
Talking about occupiers this one just signed a major deal recently leasing space to UBS (Union Bank of Switzerland) who have set up a new Dublin fund. 😎
I’ve loads of nightime pics of it here but the scanner’s broken, I’ll try another way – but yes it looks fantastic when lit, esp the central tower that forms the canyon-like entrance facing the quay.
And the view from the IFSC is amazing after dark, with all the towers glowing in white light – what a contrast with the daytime scene. Towers of Darkness they’re not!Another building that looks great at night is the old Carrolls building on the Grand Canal, it can be seen at the moment in a Kellogg’s ad on telly. It’s aged so well, and the white light and glazing make it look like it was built yesterday.
That Carrols Building is fantastic.
Love the Carroll’s Building
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/ranelagh/carrolls.html
I think half the city does – at least you’ve something nice to look at. My parents worked in it for years so I vagely recall the interior.
They tried to get hold of a fantastic painting of the building before the place was cleared out – alas someone else got there first 🙂Here’s just two pics of Georges Quay taken from a couple of years ago. It looks even better now with near full-occupancy. Apologies for resolution, they’re stills taken from some VT of photo prints :p
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