O’ Connell Street, Dublin

A bit more imagination would be nice, but I think the concept of densification by the addition of taller buildings within the depth of existing city blocks is no bad thing. I don’t think they would necessarily need to be uniform in height either, just carefully positioned where they could add depth to a flat and possibly not particularly inspired streetscape and complement, rather than interupt, the existing lower uniformity. Obviously they would also have to avoid screwing up any vistas.

Personally, I would slightly favour the vertical (as in the Arnott’s tower), over the horizontal, as here with the Gresham proposal, but not in all cases. The ‘Dublin Central’ proposed tower, opposite the Rotunda, would seem to be an example of how not to do it. Here the tower is right on the street edge creating a discordant note in the otherwise decent emerging conformity of Parnell Street.

I take your point that we’ve got to stop believing that glass boxes are the design solution to every planning challenge.

Hurrah, the spike is getting another clean along with repairing the lights this weekend!

Hopefully they’ll do a better job with the cleaning than last time, please no brown manky run off this time.

And come on DCC, do us proud, have the footpath repaired within a week.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0718/breaking71.htm

Was there any mention of any of this in the original IAP for the O Connell St project ?

Is this yet another example of the type of “Planning” engaged in by Dublin City Council as a rule ?

Lets get some costings for this festival of replacing “everlasting” light fittings and cleaning “self-cleaning” surfaces as per the original descriptions of an Tùr Solaìs 😮

This drip drip cleaning of the spire is really proving quite amusing but it is clearly preventing the surrounding pavement from settling down as a useful functional space for people to meet or people to throw their super sized hair driers.

Why can’t the spire a choice simply be made between a retro-fit with a sealant that allows a more usual 10 year maintenance programme as opposed to an annual cleaning or a rusty needle being deeemed acceptable?

There’s not a lot of laughs in that planner’s report on the Carlton site.

I’m starting to miss Rose already.

thats because its not a good proposal, where to start, oh I know, the mamoth hole they propose to ‘poke’ through a fine Henry Street terrace.

perhaps an indication that DCC intends to grant permission to Carlton redevelopment

http://www.herald.ie/national-news/city-news/moore-street-traders-paid-8364600k-to-move-1453878.html

@cgcsb wrote:

perhaps an indication that DCC intends to grant permission to Carlton redevelopment

I don’t think you’d be going too far out on a limb there cgcsb.

Phrases from the planner’s report like:

The Planning Authority is fully supportive of the radical and ambitious vision that informs the inclusion of this civic space [the sloping linear garden] at the heart of the overall development.’ perhaps provide a clue.

‘The Planning Authority is also of the opinion that the proposed Park and Observation Deck would potentially provide for a meaningful, unique and iconic addition to the overall quantum, quality and diversity of public open space in the city.’

The Planning Authority acknowledges that . . . the proposal (for a new square off O’Connell St.) is unprecedented in it’s ambition or scale.’

The Planning Authority is strongly supportive of the urban design rationale for such an opening, which is in part critically informed by the need to shift the gravity of social and economic regeneration north along O’Connell Street.’

The Planning Authority welcomes the considered and deliberate massing (on Moore St.) and modulated roof height directly abutting and adjoining the National Monument at 16-17 Moore Street.

It goes on like this for 63 pages.

On the other side of the equation, DCC would like the new square off O’Connell Street to be a bit more formal and there are a few mild criticisms of the legibility of various internal routes and a tut-tut about some possible visual clutter, so you couldn’t say the assessment isn’t balanced.

@darkman wrote:

It wold transform O’Connell St and rid that area of its general grittiness and unpleasentness.

and rid Henry Street of a fine terrace while severly damaging its character & form, please justify the impact to henry st. darkman.

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Good webcam to keep an eye on the Ulster bank job (well its scafold anyway) on link below

http://www.camvista.com/ireland/dublin/citycentre_streaming.php3

From this vantage, the staggering number of dublin bus vehicles that trundle through the city centre really does hit you !

well would you prefere there were no buses? and I know that it’s obvious they intend to give permission I just said it that way to placate the nay sayers on this site