O’ Connell Street, Dublin
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Ah yes, lets make sure that the Rosie Hacket challenges the shit out of O’Connell Bridge, not only by its proximity but now by giving it the show time lighting treatment.
Oh Christ, I passed this last night and nearly threw up. Who the heck granted permission for these heroic pylons with illuminated pink flying saucers?!! If one ever wondered what happens when you cross Ponte Alexandre III with the set of Saturday with Bibi c. 1987, sadly we now know the answer.
This is unbelievable stuff. What sophisticated city anywhere accepts muck like this, never mind in the middle of the strategic vista towards the Custom House? It’s classic rubbish beloved of unconfident, provincial cities that dress their streetscapes with disposable consumer tat to try appear relevant and modern. I utterly despair of the planning processes and authorities in Dublin. It’s a ship of fools running the show and nobody’s shouting stop.
By contrast, the bridge itself is remarkably slender and quite elegant as an engineering feat. Alas, the emerging surrounding public realm is only the latter, quelle surprise.
Graham, the entire area around that bridge is a dump, included both quays which are truly truly depressing and awful. Any change is an improvemnt. And unfortunately there’s no vista of the Customs House because it’s blocked by an ugly bridge, and overlooked by a badly maintained high rise.
You’re off again rumple. You’re probably the planner from the 1990s who famously declared in response to claims of poor design standards in Dublin 1, that anyone who was willing to invest in Gardiner Street should be “let at it”. No doubt you now feel this area is a “dump” and “anything is better than nothing” to improve it. Please stop this mantra – honestly, it’s quite disturbing.
And for the record, Eden Quay is one of the more attractive quays in the city. Don’t allow social problems colour your opinion. A new expanse of new tarmac and a clatter of poles is certainly not going to fix that.
I’m going to assume the Eden Quay comment is a joke. I just think your criticism is ridiculous. It’s not that bad, and improves a drab area, while also making that often used vista towards Liberty Hall a tad less grey. Also, the comment about provincial cities is idiotic, since Dublin is probably the city in Europe which is most pathologically averse to flash, even if it would be advantageous to introduce a bit of it.
A few snaps of the new bridge on the exsiting thread viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6703&p=118042#p118042
I have to say I agree with Graham about the quality of Eden and Burgh Quays. Some notable examples aside (such as Aviation House or Scotch House or whatever its called) there’s plenty to like on these quays, although its all hideously presented.
If you tore down at least a third of the buildings on both quays and replaced them with interesting modern architecture, painted over or removed all the grey plaster (which blights Dublin in general), concealed the swarm of wires nailed to the front of every building, put in appropriate windows, actually cleaned these buildings, put in appropriate shop fronts, widened and improved the pavements, removed the poles and other clutter, and removed most of the bus traffic, you would have a couple of nice quays.
He said Eden Quay “is one of the more attractive quays in the city”. That’s like saying Susan Boyle is beautiful, just because she would be if she lost 50 pounds, dyed her hair, and went to a plastic surgeon.
Burgh Quay is quite handsome and has real potential… if only its immediate hinterland wasn’t a soulless airlock between the northside and southside. Eden Quay is without a doubt one of the sketchiest streets in Dublin. It’s a really unpleasant place to spend any time. I speak from years of experience queuing for buses there. It can be a properly intimidating spot. There’s nothing there but bus stops and the architectural stock is no better or worse than many other quays.
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