Horseshow House

That has been on the cards for some years now. I remember reading the last time that it was sold, that the new owners planning demolishing it. Good to see the house next door staying.

An taisce have appealed the permission (which was granted) on the following grounds:

– the bar is 19th century and in good condition
– 5 stories would be over development for the area
– it would set a precedent whereby a protected structure could be adjoining a building almost twice it’s height.

It’s that last one that really caught my eye – what kind of appeal is that?

http://www.archeire.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/ballsbridge/merrion_road/house.html

Did the acceptance of Tara St. mean the setting of a precedent whereby a protected structure could be adjoined by a structure five times its height?
An Taisce are pathetic. If the building is architecturally weak, appeal it. But appealing a five story building due to its height is ridiculous. There are five storey Georgian terraces in the city.

They all ready have the cliff-faced 4 Seasons down the road.

Height should not be an issue it simply should be the architectural quality and function of the new build which should be addressed in any concerns. It’s sad to see another old Dublin boozer hitting the dust as they are now an indangered species and all the new hip and slick joints possess no Dublin character at all.

Originally posted by ew
– it would set a precedent whereby a protected structure could be adjoining a building almost twice it’s height.

I don’t see why this should be a problem
there are planty of other examples where a contrast in scale works well.
Hancock tower being one (in the extreme)

The result of this type of restriction is the rather mundane development on the North wall Quay.
I wonder would An Taisce have objected to I M Pei’s other work in the Louvre
what a Glass Pyramid??????

That remark about the John Hancock Tower was so inane. Why does nearly every discussion have to get onto the subject of height. Height on its own is not an aesthetic quality.What is this obsession for with height in Dublin. The general standard of appraisal of architecture by many of the contributors to this website is embarrassing.
Back to the Horseshow house, well I stopped drinking there when I was about 17 because the crowd was a bit young. 19th century yes,but I do not remember it being anything very special. What is the prososed building like ? is it intersesting ? original ?

Originally posted by N3
That remark about the John Hancock Tower was so inane. Why does nearly every discussion have to get onto the subject of height. Height on its own is not an aesthetic quality.

How so?
I was merely pointing out that a difference of scale is not necessarily a bad thing. a view not shared by An Taisce obviously.
Where have you seen me advocating that height on its own is an aesthetic quality?
Building Height is very relevant to Dublin at the moment so inevitably it will continue to crop up.

Originally posted by N3

The general standard of appraisal of architecture by many of the contributors to this website is embarrassing.

By all means enlighten us with your opinions. the site is here to promote discussion, but hold off on the derisory comments.

N3 is obviously battling a superiority complex at the moment, perhaps its best we leave him alone. By the way, the only embarassing thing I’ve come across on this forum so far is the following comment:

The general standard of appraisal of architecture by many of the contributors to this website is embarrassing

i know it looks like a lot of us are harping on about the high rise issue and nothing else….

but there is something wrong with a city when it is impossible to build any structures over a certain height … and the body responsible for planning continually torpedo’s every high rise proposal that comes their way … and for no apparant or at least relevant reason …

none of us are advocating the construction of high rise rubbish, we already have our fair share of crap in this city … but it is about time that dublin had some identifiable high rise landmarks…

sky scrapers or whatever you want to call them are the hall mark of 20 C architecture / engineering, we should be constructing buildings that are of our time, make a statement, and are not afraid to do so instead of all this red brick crap with a splash of cream paint, pvc windows and a tack on balcony that goes nowhere…

granted the building does not have to be tall to do so but dublin’s skyline is currently incredibly boring with a sameness that makes the ctiy centre look positively suburban …

“Height on its own is not an aesthetic quality.”

I believe that it is. Both height and size are qualities that have long impressed people, and therefore become something to be admired.

Examples are plenty. The WTC would have been plain if it was ten storeys. The height made it attractive (and the fact that there were two – where’s the logic in that??). To go back in time a little, the pyramids would have been fairly twee if they’d been the size of a local Spar.

Height is an attractive quality. We’re allowed to be fascinated by it. Being up high is also nice. Why on earth would you think differently???

fjp