Point Village

The Point Has to be open by the end of this year – I recall reading that there are already major acts lined up to give it a major relaunch so their dates are not likely to flex with changes to building schedules etc. All publicity including the site selling “premium seats” says “opening in 2008” also.

So yes Eurovision 2009 WILL in fact be in the Point…;)

I have to say, I can’t wait for it to open. It’s apparently the only arena type venue in Europe designed specifically for concerts. The much lauded O2 inside the dome in London, by the same design team, is compromised by having the typical long basketball court configuration whereas the Point will have a much squarer plan meaning more of the audience will be sitting facing and in closer proximity to the stage. Fair play to Crosbie for having such vision – with the Point and the new Grand Canal Theatre suddenly Dublin will have two world class cultural venues. Im not a huge fan of the externals of either scheme but from what I can tell both will have superb facilities and interiors.

@gunter wrote:

I imagine that the externals weren’t the priority on the Point anyway, but did they have to go for the aesthetics of a loaded container ship?

That’s exactly what it looks like alright. I’d have hopes that the lighting scheme will add a bit of drama to the proceedings but Id have preferred something a lot more simple and elegant in architectural terms – think the new layers on top of Tate Modern, not the trendy randomized effect that dosent seem to relate in any way to the proportions of the old facades.

And now that you mention it, losing the gables and levelling off the top of the existing structures would make a world of difference to the overall effect. No doubt though keeping as much of the existing structures as possible was a pre-requisite to get over the preservation lobby… I actually think that the glazed facade should maybe have come down and layered OVER the flanking rubble stone wall, with an in -between zone that would have been fantastic for lobbys, bars, restaurants etc. and the historic stone wall as a dramatic internal feature. The side elevation – probably the most seen of all – is a bit flat and dull in the scheme under construction – nice original arched windows granted but the overall composition with the big glass box hovering overhead is pretty clumsy.

What’s all this about ‘getting rid of’ the gables on the Point building? It’s not just a case of appeasing ‘the preservation lobby’; without the gables, the building would have a ‘short front and sides’ look and the ‘new’ architecture (which you admit lacks imagination) would be put into even starker relief. You cannot just get rid of historic architecture; if you’re going to ‘add’ to it you can’t eliminate it to suit the new style. Better to demolish it and lose a part of urban history forever than mutilate it. What will be the lifespan of the ‘new’ Point – 25, 20 15 years…? Too late then to say that the old rail depot had some integrity.
Some of you clearly have all the historical sensitivity of the madman who planted the mine in the Four Courts and destroyed the archival history of 700 years; most of what is built today will be so yesterday tomorrow.

Just to clarify, neither of us were talking about removing the external gable that can be seen in the large image I posted above. I realize reading back that it sounds like I was justifying shearing the whole top off the front block!! Rather it’s the three blank ends to the old sheds that will be stranded amid all that glazing that I could happily lose. They can be seen in the shot from across the river above. Personally I think they look ridiculous, tokenistic and take away from the elegance of the front facade when seen from across the river.
And for your information Johnglas, I’m VERY historically sensitive. 😉 I just also happen to have strong opinions as to what is worth retaining and how to balance conservation with an end result that will be visually harmonious. In this case taking away the gables would just be tinkering – it’s going to be a fancy glassy lump with a nice old facade wrapping around two sides and nothing more exciting anyway.

On a more positive note, great to see that big things CAN be built quickly in this country.

BTH: I’ve no reason ro doubt your sensitivity, but I’m not convincedit’s such a big issue and to destroy the old to justify the aesthetics of the bland new seems to me a step too far. What if in 10 years time everyone hates the current intervention and wants to redo it making more positive use of the old building form?

Is the tower definitely under construction? It’s really exciting to see something actually getting done! does antone know the satus of the new luas bridge going across Spencer Dock?

It’s a real shame that they couldn’t have built this on the next site over, and we could have had two decent buildings side by side (a great concert hall and a great exhibition hall) instead of one schizophrenic one.

It looks like a vast expanse of open space which I’m not keen on. Given our weather and the location, I suspect that regularly this will be a bleak windswept desert. I’d rather more was packed into the site and that they made some attempt at creating an urban feel by building a denser variety of buildings.

they seem to be working on the foundation for the tower a good while now. why is there such a long delay in going to construction?