Look at de state of Cork, like!

Yeah that Clontarf street design looks pretty good, was worried for a little while. Pity about the image, when will you get a better 1 up Lex?

sorry i’m joking. but really cork is a nice city with much possibilities. i am working here for 6 months and would like to see it become more developed. i hope i may be here in the future to see how it becomes. this is a very good internet site but what abouut italy???

look forward to seeing more designs for cork.

genario

@mickeydocs wrote:

why don’t you tell us more about Turin?

Torino!!! i will tell you more of it in an italian discussion page. i will keep this page for cork. yes/no?

genario

@who_me wrote:

Re: the Kenny Group’s design on Patrick’s Quay, I think it’s a stunning design – easily my favourite of all the recent and upcoming developments in Cork. Even having said that though, if I had to choose between that building, and retaining the old stone facades, I’d opt for the stone facades every time – the RC building could be built elsewhere. As mickeydocs suggested, those old buildings still look great now, and will do in another 50 years, with a basic level of maintenance, while most new developments like the RC building are, for want of a better term, ‘disposable architecture’. It will likely need a complete makeover in 30-40 years (if you don’t believe me, how many new buildings from the mid 60’s in Ireland look good now?) Whereas the retained facades are far more timeless.

More developments like the new RC building please (but let’s not knock our few remaining ‘gems’ to make way for them!) IMO, of course. 😀

I always believe in going for the timeless quality. I like the idea of a building that people will look at in 50 years, when all our modern ideas of architecture have gone out the window, and have them saying “That’s a classic!” Paul Kenny’s building has numerous qualities to it, and though I strongly support retaining proverbial ‘gems’, many Protected Structures in Cork, are confusingly given this status. I like the facades on St. Patrick’s Quay, but in order to redeveloped the site and still retain the facades, what constitutes a suitable project??? A mock-style replica? Or a modern take? Quite often these style replicas are disastrous verticals and boring lines which mimic nothing near the intricate detail and blunt building methods that add to the timeless quality of the original building. In the end, they often insult the original facade or building rather than compliment it. The Kenny proposal is assertively modern, but recognises the historical element, which remains distinctive. In 40 or 50 years, if the Kenny development is demolished to make way for some other project, the facades by way of this distinction will remain unique elements rich for preservation.

@who_me wrote:

Re: the Custom House quay, I was really hoping this might be used as a bar/bistro/restaurant complex making full use of the quay areas for outdoor seating. As the docks are (hopefully!) rejuvenated, it would make a great social hub, particularly with the pedestrian bridges (as per the dockland masterplan) to the North and South quays. It also could spur a lot of foot traffic through the rejuvenated city “East End”, and join up nicely with the Lavitt’s Quay boardwalk area.

Personally, I think it would be a tremendous pity to knock the existing buildings, when so close by (South Docks area) there’s an area ideally suited for truly high rise development: existing tall buildings of little aesthetic appeal, few residents to object, riverside & city centre location.

I never said Custom House Quay (CHQ) – just to put that on the record, uhmm. But lets just say we were talking about that site – I have a very noted interest and understanding of that location for numerous reasons I won’t go into. The site has a fascinating history and its prominence and uniqueness demand only the very finest complements. However, you can take it from me, the warehousing on the site will not be demolished (it would be most unlikely for this to occur). Any plans that would be conceived, would generally be built around the warehousing on the actual quaysides and demolish the Cork Bonded Warehouse facility to the east – where here, development would be acceptable. The problem with construction here is the retention of the wonderful cobbled quaysides. Plans have in the past, been devised for this site, which sought to refurbish and delicately adjust the existing warehouses for leisure usage with boardwalked quaysides. However those plans were forced to move on consequent of a number of factors which will remain undisclosed. The site is a very difficult engineering feat by any standards. Were a high-rise in the conception – you’d be talking pile foundations of approx. 50 feet etc etc. Any design would have to be of impeccable landmark standards. Cough.

@who_me wrote:

Has any interest been announced in purchasing the Beamish & Crawford brewery for redevelopment? Probably No. 1 on my wishlist would see the Counting House retained (obviously) but the rest of the property sympathetically redeveloped, with a ‘green’ public area winding from the South Gate bridge along the riverside onto Hanover St.

It’s quite a lot of fun watching tourists struggling to frame a picture of St. Finbarr’s Cathedral while cutting out the brewery. It could be a very attractive quarter of the city, with the Counting House, the Elizabethan fort and St. Finbarr’s in close proximity. Of course, if the proposed new hotel across the river (Cross’s Green?) is as bad as it sounds, perhaps not. Is there any news of that development lexington?

I am not aware of any plans regarding Beamish & Crawford other than aspirations and mere informal proposals.

As for the Charles McCarthy proposal of a 7-storey hotel designed by Derek Tynan & Associates for Crosses Green – can I simply say, it is the ugliest proposal bestowed on Cork in many many years. Quite frankly, its a disgrace. The cladding colouration is most unusual and interesting (black limestone), but the design is bland, boring and detracts substantially from the inspiring (no pun intended) presence of St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral. It represents nothing more than a large black wall. I’ll have a further update and image soon.

@lexington wrote:

🙂 It seems Lush (yes, the original ‘bath bomb’ maker!) is seeking to open a store in Cork. The rumours of the store’s opening have long been established but now the wheel’s are in motion, with recruitment in tow.

Prepare yourselves for the toxic smell! 😉

@Pug wrote:

no more vibes / guesstimates / news on who bought the tesco site in midleton?

No dont think it was Cork Marts though

Clontarf street : i agree this building is indeed a landmark, seems an excillent piece of architecture, is it true that this work of architecture is designed by, a lady?
a foreigner?
have u got any more pics? love to see few more. 😎

@phatman wrote:

Couldn’t agree with you more who_me, the potential for this is great, and would really serve as a focal point for the docklands if developed correctly, not to mind being a much needed tourist attraction. I gotta agree with you on preserving the existing buildings too, would really make a great cage/bar/retaurant complex, further to my previous post haha.
Any plans for this site, anyone?

First of all, don’t become too sceptical too soon regarding any plans that ‘may’ be in line for CHQ w/o seeing the plans. Second, the warehousing is not an issue. Port of Cork are rigid in their retention. Third, regarding any plans for CHQ in the prospective future, the problem with mere cafe/leisure usage etc., is in part a problem consequent of the PoC’s own doing. Their guide price on the site is substantial given the nature of the premises, and limits the options on development w.r.t. the price. As Brendan Keating (PoC CEO) once said long ago, he was not going to be pressurised by CCC or Joe Gavin to do anything, regardless of what Urban Initiatives had wooed CCC with. Any development will have to get bang-for-its-buck and be economically viable. Let’s just relax and see what occurs. Too much speculation is like wind to a wildfire. Relax.

Wats the panic about CHQ, its not like dey are goina develop it ‘willie nillie’ with a bita glass here, bit stainless steel there. I’m sure any project will be completely sympathetic to the area. The only adjustments that are being mooted, are to facilitate viable uses in the warehousing building. It think it was Lex who outlined one problem on a previous occaision, which concerns the size of the doors, or maybe I heard that somewhere else.
Anyway when it does happen it would really give the area, to the east of the city a focus. It would also facilitate festival retailing in the city, which would contribute greatly to our tourism potential. Its a formula which has been followed all over the world, even the simpsons have the Redeveloped Squid Port! Actually it would propbably become some over-priced tourist trap, like the square in Prague, jesus dey saw me coming in that place!

@satanta99 wrote:

Anyway when it does happen it would really give the area, to the east of the city a focus. It would also facilitate festival retailing in the city, which would contribute greatly to our tourism potential. Its a formula which has been followed all over the world, even the simpsons have the Redeveloped Squid Port! Actually it would propbably become some over-priced tourist trap, like the square in Prague, jesus dey saw me coming in that place!

As opposed to.. what part of this city ISN’T overpriced? 😉

I believe you’re right though, I think the two-channel geography of the city makes it more interesting than most, particularly for pedestrian traffic along the riverside, and the CHQ is an obvious hub for that. If only I had millions to invest…