Office blocks @ Kilmainham Gaol & Royal Hospital
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From todays Independent…
Green light for historic Nestlé site
THE ambitious and controversial development proposed for the Nestle Rowntree site, opposite Kilmainham Jail in Dublin 8, has just been granted the green light by the capital’s planners and already a pre-let has been agreed.
The scheme, by Charmside Ltd (a Treasury Holdings company) will be located on a four acre site opposite the South Circular Road entrance to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The site was in use up to eighteen months ago as a manufacturing base for Nestle Ireland and was subsequently acquired by Treasury for almost £10m
The new development, a variation of one already under appeal with an Bord Pleanala, will comprise three office blocks, capable of sub-division, with a lettable area of 32,217 sq.m. There are 572 parking space, a large restaurant, creche, 625 sq.m gymnasium and ample retail and tourism space which will be at ground floor level.
Strategically located between the city centre and the M50, the site has prominent corner frontage with views of the Phoenix Park to the rear. It is also five minutes walk from the refurbished Heuston Station and new Luas Davitt Road line.
However, the scheme has its opponents who are currently objecting to a separate planning permission granted earlier this year. They argue that the development will loom over the jail and its Victorian streetscape and could impact on tourism in this area. The appeals board is due to make a decision on the earlier permission next month,according to Treasury Holding’s John Bruder.
Mr Bruder is hopeful that a decision will not be delayed because there is already a pre-let agreed for space here, subject to planning. Contrary to many market reports, John Bruder says there is a great deal of domestically-generated demand for office space. Two different occupiers are seeking 6,500 sq.m. in Kilmainham and Central Park. This is the large office park project in Sandyford, Co Dublin that is 50pc owned by Treasury Holdings. Offices in the proposed new Spencer Dock development and on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay are also in demand, mostly from indigenous companies, he reports.
5 minutes walk to Kingsbridge Station?
Well some parts of it I suppose, assuming that you can cross the road.
You lot in Kilmainham and Dublin 8, must realise that the march of a nation cannot be impeded by emotion and lack of realism. You should be grateful for a modern development that will manifest our dynamic economy to the thousands of tourists who visit Dublin’s Kilmainham, which makes a bold statement.. a grand project.. of the new Ireland and a vision of our success and modernity. No doubt other derelict sites and opportunities await development and must not be squandered i.e. office blocks as a backdrop to the Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Castle, King John’s Castle or the old decrepit Arsenal in the Park. Knock the bloody thing down and the Jail as they only remind us of our past oppression and domination. That’s the problem with Kilmainham its full of “brit-ish-er ar-chi-tec-ture†and none of our own great visions… …..until now. Happy St. Patrick’s day 2002 to all the enlightened city planners in Dublin Corporation and to our very own Paddy Celtic Tiger Type property developers..I believe they call themselves something else now ..the Corporation that is.
[This message has been edited by Luke Gardnier (edited 19 March 2002).]
First thing that I would like to say is that Kilmainham/Inchicore is not just of historical importance in Dublin but in the whole history of the state.
Kilmainham is not the site for these office blocks,just literally five miles up the road you have Park West industrial site,why not here???It would be such a crying shame to a monstrosity of an office block erected in such a historicaly significent site.“It would be such a crying shame to (have) a monstrosity of an office block erected in such a historicaly significent site.”
I thought they were proposing to build it on a site across the road. Are they actually going to demolish Kilmainham jail and build on top of it! Come off it, they’re building on an old chocolate factory, what’s historically significant about that? Maybe we should never build anything anywhere near anything thats even remotely old, would that suit you?
Don’t know what the proposed building for the site looks like, but to rule it out purely on the basis of being near a historical site is just stupid.
You don’t know what it looks like then visit http://www.kilmainham-gaol.comand ask would office blocks be allowed as a backdrop to say Edinburgh Castle or to stand in the Place de la Bastille (where once their Jail stood) or 25ft away from the Tower of London – not in a million years. This site in Kilmainham requires a little vision and some thought on its future function and architetural profile.
[This message has been edited by John Callery (edited 22 March 2002).]
I think this is a load of fuss about nothing. Kilmainham Jail is nothing architecturally IMO so building across the road from it doesn’t matter. The RHK is well removed and protected by its parkland.
Let’s face it this will seriously damage the development of tourism in Dublin’s Kilmainham as this is the only and most appropriate site in the district if not Dublin City where tourism could and must be developed as “a grand project”. Rent a space and car garage office blocks can be built anywhere. This unique site considering its surrounding context(historical and architectural)has only one chance and that presents itself now.
Originally posted by Luke Gardnier:
Let’s face it this will seriously damage the development of tourism in Dublin’s Kilmainham as this is the only and most appropriate site in the district if not Dublin City where tourism could and must be developed as “a grand project”.Bollox… Conservation Scare Mongering
How ill it seriously damage it?“The RHK is well removed and protected by its parklandâ€
Why should the Royal Hospital need to be protected as you say MG (among other things) from these office blocks if they are of architectural excellence and a landmark of contemporary development. The Jail then has no protection at all. As somebody previously stated this is Park House moving over from the NCR, its smash and grab and stay forever, dead zone in the evening and weekend office space in a developing tourism district.
You miss my point, I don’t believe the jail is of any architectural merit. It is only interesting because of the historical accident of various terrorist (and they were terrorists) being incarcerated there. As a building or tourist attraction, it is only interesting for its interior.
As for Kilmainham area becoming a major tourist attraction, get a life. Tour bus comes in, vommits out its passengers, they walk into prison, do tour, walk out of prison, into bus and off to Phoenix park.
Just took a look at the images of the proposed development and if thats all you people are worried about then you really do have too much time on your hands. What the hell is the big fuss? OK, its no architectural marvel, but its not half as bad as some scaremongers are making out.
Actually I’m beginning to hope this gets the go-ahead, as I’m being drawn to the conclusion that some conservationists may well be full of crap, as well as their own self-importance. Although, knowing An Bord Pleanala, no doubt they’ll get their own whinging way.
MG, as you are the only one to have introduced your political opinions on Kilmainham Gaol, I must remind you that half of the nation’s Capital’s streets, bridges, statues, commemorative events (Easter Week etc) train stations, public buildings even this speculative office complex (Hueston) are named after “the terrorists†executed in Kilmainham Gaol.
Suffice to say this is an architectural forum one should leave one’s political opinions at home and debate the issue, I’m sure the site’s administrator would concur.
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