Look at de state of Cork, like!

Below is an image of the soon to be redeveloped Douglas Village Shopping Centre. The Centre is owned by Clayton Love (Shipton Group) also owners of the Blackpool SC and new Blackpool Retail Park (notice the similar logos). Design in by Wilson Architecture.

lexington, international man of mysterious resourcefulness.

Yes – development plans were in tow for Cinema World in Douglas, however, the plans have been put to one side. Cinema World will not be closing in the near future for the same reasons the Capitol Cineplex is not being redeveloped. Cinema numbers in Cork are up and ar record high-levels. Income at all of Cork’s cinemas has been substantially increased in the last few years – between 2003 and 2004 revenue increased by almost 48% (largely from increased lobby sales). The development plans for Cinema World originally did comprise of an expansion to the east (currently vacant greenfield) – it was their intention to add a further 6 screens and compete with the Omniplex at Mahon Point. These plans were abandoned fearing oversupply in the immediate area come 2005 – and subsequently, new plans were drawn up – of these I’m not clear, but I’ll look into it – however, an expansion may be yet again on the cards as a result of revised optimistic projections and rise in visit levels.

🙂 31m euro has been allocated to the the first phase of the long awaited Knocknaheeny redevelopment project. CCC have received funding (predominantly from public sources, with some private input) to begin the project – it will take a total of 7 to 9 years depending on funding – to complete. The development consists of a number of local authority housing being substantially renovated and extended, up to 501 new residential units, new community facilities, medical facilities, educational developments, shopping facilities and a remodelling of existing amenity and commercial areas.

For a more insightful visual of the plan for Knocknaheeny, visit the Urban Designers behind the project, Wain Morehead Architects, here -> http://www.wma.ie/default_files/slide0024.htm

Originally posted by Lorcan
the picture on that is so small its hard to see what the ‘proposal’ is like. what happenend to the millenium clock by the way?

It became a Millenium Bridge – which subsequently didn’t get constructed until this year!

Lexington,

Thanks for all the contributions. Superb info.

A few questions for those in the know!!

what is to happen to the silos down the docks, are they still in use? presume they are going to be knocked at some stage?

what exactly is going up on the old An Post site? anyone got pictures of what is planned? Has it started yet?

any move yet on Horgan’s Quay??

I know some of these have been dealt with before but any updates would be appreciated!

Last Saturday The Irish Examiner ran an article on a proposed 500m euro PPP Northern Loop/Ring road for Cork city. The proposed road would extend from the Ballincollig By-Pass Poulavane Roundabout – then continue on a 5km tunnel under the Lee Valley area resurfacing near Blarney – passed an interchange with the Mallow Dual-Carriageway linking up at the N8 intersection just north of Glanmire. This – combined with the Jack Lynch Tunnel and Southern Ring Road would create a full-loop dual-carriageway right around Cork city. Est.’d tunnel costs = 300m according to the article. Apparently plans have been lodged with the NRA – we’ll see. Although I welcome such progressive development news – is it really the right kind of progressive? I acknowledge Cork city traffic is desperately clogged on an almost continuous basis – but I’m still a firm believer in us investing in a better commuter and suburban rail system. We should be looking to remove cars from the streets full-stop – not just send them off in a different direction. Its a huge investment for a short-sighted solution.

A number of issues arise here – first of all, the proposed 81-unit development is divided over a number of buildings, the tallest equalling 5-storeys. (Anti High-Rise???!!! Last time I checked 14 stories up just about qualifies as HIGH-rise.) Second, the residents want the development – just not now because they’re sick of construction activity in the area. Third, enacting Section 140 is a costly (to tax-payers) strategy (just ask Kerry County Council!) and has wide-reaching consequences (negative) if proceeded with. Furthermore, such a labourious process can very readily be overturned on appeal to ABP by the developer.

I’m completely respectful of residents objecting to a development on a relevant ground – it’s their democratic right. I’ve done it too when I believed it appropriate. But does anyone else see a problem with the above grounds adopted by CAHRA? 5 storeys (the area is already predominantly this height, with developments in Victoria Cross predominantly between 5 and 9 storeys)??? Anti High-Rise??? We want the develop, just not now??? We’ll waste tax-payers money on something that can easily be overturned??? Could the residents at the very least object as normal – and respect the decision of the LA. If they are displeased with the outcome, then approach ABP. Why undermine Local Government, rip-off the tax-payer and object against a project that doesn’t even qualify for grounds on which the objecting organisation is based? It’s a bad move for all concerned. If they’re grounds for objection are genuinely relevant and strong enough – this will be reflected in the planning decision.

I cant believe you would even begin to criticise Cork without mentioning the hideous stick-on extension to the Opera House and the frightening office building just down the quay from it currently under construction! Truly a nightmare addition to the city! But as for the “cheap office blocks” giving Irelands architects a bad name; maybe you should check if architects are involved in the design of these buildings at all – which mostly they are not!- before blaming them for something which (lets be honest here) they have no control over! And even though you correctly call Cork Irelands second largest city you are annoyed that “a nice little area” well within the city centre, is being urbanised. Cork cannot reach the significant status you think it deserves without some change! Cork turned its back on positive architectural and urban development when it allowed the freakishly bad Merchants Quay development to be built and the subsequent systematic destruction of its quayside architecture! Corks most valuable asset : the river and its wide quays, boulevard-like in some places, is consistently ignored by developers and now they have ruined Patrick St. too. We are blind to the urban planning and densification mistakes Dublin and even London have made and refuse to learn from it. When will we see that inappropriate housing estate sprawl and ugly office developments are not the way to improve Corks urban image?!?!

Originally posted by speakeasy
This is a great website, really interesting even for the non architect types like me. But whats with all the discussion about Dublin? Cork is Ireland’s second largest city and hardly gets a mention! Theres all sorts of bad stuff going on in this City which needs discussion. I strongly beleive that web sites like this do make a difference and are a great voice.

Lots of new developments which seem to have escaped any public scrutiny at the planning stage (surprise surprise) are being thrown up in Cork. The City is losing its character, fast, because of cheap office blocks which are actually worse than the many mistakes built in the 1960’s.

Take for example the new development on Lapps Quay opposite the beautiful City Hall and next to the even more aesthetically pleasing Cork Savings Bank (now AIB). This, you would think, should be an area to preserve. But sadly the hideous old Eircom building on the Quay is being made look even more awful and a huge area has also been cleared to make way for air raid shelter type apartments and offices. Up the road at Anglesea street, a nice little area with lots of old well preserved buildings, is a new office block, which looks like it was designed by the same people who came up with the EBS building on dame street Dublin. This thing is monstrous, it dwarfs an adjoining pub and looks totally out of character in this street. What is going on? Who designs these things? Does anyone notice how shocking they are? Does anyone care? Cmon you Dubs, Cork is a part of this nation too… pay us some attention! Ireland’s architects are going to get a bad name from all this rubbish being

One of the most frequently asked questions on this thread is that of ‘What’s happening with Horgan’s Quay?’ Well, I’ve been anxious to make available drawings on some of the masterplans for the quay – and now I can.

The images you see below are those drawn up by a team led by Wilson Architecture for Horgan’s Quay and Kent Station. The team was commisiond by a leading development group in conjunction with Cork Corporation (at the time) and CIE. I can’t name the developers at the moment, but if you know, you know.

This plan was one of 4 masterplans devised for the northern docklands. Wilson Architecture adopted a more low-rise approach to the redevelopment with a max. height of 6 – 7 storeys along Railway Street and up to 9 storeys facing onto the Lower Glanmire Road. The taller elements consisted of a multi-storey car-park for Kent Station (up to 800 parking spaces), a public multi-storey car-park (up to 1000+), offices and a retail development extending from the Lower Glanmire Road to Horgan’s Quay and opening out onto a central public amenity plaza. A new tilting pedestrian bridge extends from this new pedestrian plaza (which juts out over the river) across to Custom House Quay (a proposal that is now be seriously addressed by another development company as we speak).

Kent Station faces out quayside with a new concourse and road-system.

If you look to the left of the taller proposed retail centre – you will see a number of vacant warehousing and showroom facilities – as part of this masterplan, a developer had asked the design team to conduct a feasibility study into a multi-purpose concert and convention hall (championed by Joe Gavin – in fact this is where he got his initial idea for such a venue on Horgan’s Quay). Part of the retail element would be omitted on the Horgan’s Quay side and the facility would extend over Railway Street to a continued development to be built replacing these vacant warehouses and showrooms (circa. 175,000sq ft w/ a 6,000 seat capacity in theatre style, and large open area convention style floor in alternate use). The parking would be catered for in the public multi-storey facility and entrance to both retail/leisure and theatre venues would front out onto the plaza.

The remainder of the redevelopment along Horgan’s Quay would consist of a number of offices and apartment facilities as far as Water Street – with public and residential amenities scattered throughout. A boardwalk, cafes and new docking area would be provided for visiting naval vessels.

However, this masterplan, although still an option in some respects – has been kind of put to one side in favour of alternate options – these plans focus more on high-rise, with a view to increased public amenity space and a more ‘town centre’ style quality. A number of landmark towers are planned in one design (and I am told they are of exceptional international quality – with an as yet undisclosed international design team responsible for at least one of the buildings). If I can, at some point in the future – I’ll get my hands on these plans for you. But for now, here’s just a taste of what may or may not be yet to come. (Knowing CIE none of them will come – but hey, optimism!) 🙂

Also, at the far end of the development, one can see the existing site for the Water Street development. MOLA tell me a new application is expected in either late December or early January 2005.

I like the ‘plaza’ element (I assume it goes over the road?) and the link to Custom House Quay – apart from that….yawn!