O’ Connell Street, Dublin
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Originally posted by Paul Clerkin
thats because it was a dull feb day… you forget that architects can justify anything verbally….or THINK they can,
I’ve seen a few skinned at planning hearings over the years, trying to sell a project
I actually think that the lights in question would work better on a Quay, I am not sure that they work well in Patrick St,
They certainly wouldn’t work in O’Connell St where the only light that demands attention at night is the Spire.
While I’m posting these tenders, here’s another interesting one. Title: O’Connell Street Improvement Works Phase 2 Awarding Authority: Dublin City Council Publication date: 22-Jul-2004
Application Deadline: Tender Deadline Date: 30-Aug-2004
Tender Deadline Time: 12:00 Notice Type: Tenders
Has Documents: Yes Abstract: The contract will comprise lot 2 of the O’Connell Street Improvement Scheme and will require the construction of natural stone paved footways and asphalt surfaced carriageways at O’Connell Street, Dublin.
http://www.etenders.gov.ie/search/search_show.aspx?ID=JUL027162There was an interesting discussion on 106Fm the other day with Paul Moloney (the North City Area Manager) and Cllr Dermot Lacey (former Lord Mayor) re the street. Apparently the next remainder of the street will completed over a period of 8 months from early next year. Also answered comments on the dificulty in discerning the path from roadwauy in the plaza area (no change – use pedestrian crossings) and the slippy surface of the plaza (it will be treated next week to create a more abrasive surface)
Originally posted by StephenC
Apparently the next remainder of the street will completed over a period of 8 months from early next year.That is good news, although it is a pity that the Street will not be ready for the start of another Tourist season.
It is quite dangerous to cycle O’Connell St now, as the right hand sided cycle lane just ends and the traffic pushes you into plastic hoardings just before the taxi rank.
I also really like The Section of Lower Abbey St to O’Connell St, I would almost say it is one of the best pieces of urban renewal I have seen in Dublin. 😉
Originally posted by StephenC
Apparently the next remainder of the street will completed over a period of 8 months from early next year.That is good news, although it is a pity that the Street will not be ready for the start of another Tourist season.
It is quite dangerous to cycle O’Connell St now, as the right hand sided cycle lane just ends and the traffic pushes you into plastic hoardings just before the taxi rank.
I also really like The Section of Lower Abbey St to O’Connell St, I would almost say it is one of the best pieces of urban renewal I have seen in Dublin. 😉
Does the remainder refer to the lower section or the northern end? Surely upper O’ Cll St cannot be totally done in just 8 months, would it not take about 2 years or so?
Well the Project Manager seemed to suggest that it would be completed in 8 months… however, I always thought Abbey St to the Bridge was Phase 2 including the building of kiosks. However this work is already underway and I see no reason why it should not be completed by the years end. The final section, ie the northern end from Henry to Parnell I thought was Phase 3. But a tender notice was issued earlier in the week for Phase 2 works to commence later this year. I presume this is Phase 3 …. its all very confusing! Anyhow the point was that the works should be completed by Christmas of next year, which if the start in Feb 2005 and take 8-9 months takes us to Dec. Thats realisitic surely.
I suppose – it just seems like a mammoth task, esp when the service laying is taken into account. It’s just that the Lower St works began before Christmas last year and are to be completed by Christmas of this year – lasting at least 13 months.
If they can fit the upper half into 8 – great 🙂Originally posted by StephenC
The final section, ie the northern end from Henry to Parnell I thought was Phase 3.I kind of like that bit of pebblestone landscaping around the base of the Parnell Monument. Will that be replaced as part of this phase? though I admit it’s of no great merit.
For the first 10 or 15 years after it was blown up, the Nelson Pillar site had a similar ‘pebble park’.
have a photo of itt somewhere if i can find it ill post it
Originally posted by Graham Hickey
Interesting photograph of the street here from 1858 – one of the earliest photos of a street scene in the city. Must have been taken on a Sunday morning or something as the place is deserted.Only catching up on this now!
Very early photo. The reason why no people or other moving objects appear is that photography was very new in 1858 and camera film was very slow, very insensitive to light. The lens would have to be left open for a minute or more to get a proper exposure. The street was probably busy at the time, but moving things did record. The one coach that you can see near the Pillar must have been stationary during the exposure.
But the technology improved quickly and by the late 19th century camera film was much ‘quicker’ and it was possible to take a photograph in a fraction of a second, thus ‘freezing’ people or vehicles as they moved through a view.
Yes, I wonder if the dirt is the actual surface in the picture or are there stone setts or cobbles underneath?
Loads of photos have ‘ghosts’ as a result of the long exposure time, but there’s absolutely nothing in this pic. Indeed in the first set of photos ever taken in Dublin in, I think 1848 (could have been 45), there are quite a few ghosts in the Hardwicke St pic.
This Sackville photo was definitely taken in the morning anyway, depending on winter or summer between 9.00 and 11.00am (I know the sun patterns here only too well from hanging around for the sun sun to fall on buildings!)
The Lumiere Brother’s footage of ‘People walking in Sackville Street’ and the bridge from around 1897, the first footage ever recorded in this country, is very spooky to watch.I like the cobbles around Parnell too, they used to be so common as a quick-fix solution in the 70s, but they still have appeal here, on an island of their own.
I’ve just come back from a trip to Dublin and was up O’Connell str. way, a few years ago I wouldn’t have bothered ’cause of all the junkies and scumbags hanging around but it’s diferent now, isn’t it.
The spike is frikkin shock and awe, it’s like a center of gravity pulling people in from all over the city. Cleary’s is my favorite department store in town, I mean, it’s a real department store, a great O’Connell str. and Dublin institution.
A lot has been said about the state of the street from the spike to the Parnell monument, the fact is the quality of the buildings north of the spike is far superior to those that go to the river, particulary on the GPO side, they are bad. Just take a look at the block that includes the Gresham and the Savoy, worthy of a great street, real quality.
I’m a poshie from the south-side by the way, but for me O’Connell str. rules boring Grafton str. anyday.
Yes, the 1858 foto of O’C St. was definitely taken early-ish in the morning as the sun is coming directly from the east, so it’s possible that the street was quiet.
The next foto (circa 1895) – taken from the Westmoreland St/D’Olier St corner – is also interesting because, while this view was (and is) endlessly photographed, you don’t normally see any foreground detail (John Gray (or whoever he is) statue and surrounding street furniture).
What I would love is if the plaza at the GPO could have been FLATTER. While the unity of the pavement and road surface is excellent (provided traffic is not pouring through), it still has the ‘road’-like quality of falling away at each side to an annoying degree. If they were serious about the “plaza” being a plaza, it should have been much flatter. You shouldn’t feel like you’re higher up on the median than the pavements at each side, which you do now.
But I still like it a lot and I think the work being done is great.
This was always going to be a problem – traffic running through the plaza. Suppose it highlights how uncomfortable such a feature is on what essentially is an avenue, or long stretch of street. Not that I think it doesn’t work; the presence of the GPO was always going to require special treatment, and the plaza does it justice.
But there is an issue at present with both the plaza and the Spire act as a termination point on the street, actually discouraging even more so people from going further up the street. From a pedestrian flow point of view, the site of the Parnell Monument would have been superior for the Spire, acting as a magnet pulling people and tourists right to the very top, and further into the proposed ‘cultural quarter’ and opening up new possibitities for Parnell St.
But the Nelson site has too much historical significance to be glossed over, and as a major nodal point in this area of the city, the Spire just belongs there.Originally posted by shaun
Just take a look at the block that includes the Gresham and the Savoy, worthy of a great street, real quality.
There are some excellent buildings in that mostly early 20th Century Block most notably the Gresham, Hammam Buildings and Revenue Commissioners Building above burgerking, who put in a surprisingly sensitive shopfront. Well for a burgerking at least.
The savoy facade is great but what is with the new signage?
A comparison between it and the Carlton is depressing. 🙁
Bring back the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. Let’s have it remodelled and re-instated in this part of the street. It would help draw the crowds and add some life …….ahem!
A planning notice has gone up on the former Bank of Ireland beside Clery’s.
It is for a Bookies office with associated signage etc.
May be of interest to those of you who are usually so vocal on the quality of development on O’Connell St. (Doc Quirkey’s springs to mind)
The date on the notice was the 4th of August ’04
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