Spike Vs Anne Summers
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Yes it is a ludicrous situation, but this is what happens when we have useless local government. Now, in a typically Irish manner our major contribution to Milennium Madness will not be in place by new year’s eve. Because of this decision practically all of the improvements that the Corporation wants to make can be subject to a judicial review, from the redevelopment of Smithfield to new street lighting. If somebody doesn’t like it then the whole city could loose out. Yes the spike was different, I think that it should be built.
Imagine the situation if judicial reviews for EIS had been allowed at the time of the wide street comissioners, would we have a city worth speaking of? For that matter would Temple Bar have been redeveloped so successfully in recent times if an EIS had to be prepared for improvements in that area? Anybody could have held up plans indefinitely with review after review.
If all improvements that the corporation make have to be subject to an EIS then we will be tied up in even more bureaucracy than ever before (The sort of red-tape that can allow destruction of buildings like Archers Garage). What we need in this city is some strong leadership, by the people for the people. Not by career civil servants who commute into the city from Wicklow, Meath, or Kildare, or some other far flung ‘Dublin’ suburb, and couldn’t give a toss about anything except for their pay. -
The whole place has gone to the dogs! I read with horror the news that the ‘Spike’ has been indefinitely ruled out by the High Court. I think Lancefort [who I have previously supported] have gone totally overboard, and seem to be objecting to everything. Damn that artist too, for objecting to the Spike when it is common knowledge that he is just bitter about his proposal not being chosen.
The repercussions of this could be disastrous for projects such as Smithfield, the Millennium Boardwalk and the Millennium Pedestrian Bridge.
Michael Smith, director of Lancefort, says that “There is an insuperable problem with the height of the scheme” and that the proposed height of the “spike” meant it could not relate to the scale of O’Connell Street.
Does the Eiffel Tower relate to its environs?
The answer, by Mr Smith’s logic is resolutely NO. The fact that the Eiffel Tower does not relate to the rest of Paris matters? Its still one of the most visited tourist sights in the world. I’m not saying that the Spike has such a vast potential but I think it is attractive, and in my opinion, should be built in time for the year 2000.But Messrs Smith & Ó Nualláin et al are obviously determined to scupper it at every level, even if the forthcoming EIS okays it. Those who bemoaned the select committee who chose the Spike as being too ‘select’ and unrepresentative of public opinion, are now being treated to the same all over again by Lancefort and their ilk.
Great monuments are often not appreciated until long after their construction, and most of the time are considered out of place by these conservationist fanatics. But the so called “leading environmental and heritage agency – [Irish Times]” Lancefort (which is actually a private limited company) look set to sterilise the Spike into something banal and unremarkable by reducing its scale, if not kill it forever.
Lancefort, as a heritage-conscious citizen, I think you’re better suited to the preservation of listed buildings. Leave the innovative side of the Corporation alone, so that something bold and new can grace the Dublin skyline soon. I think its a disgrace that you are imposing your narrow-minded views via this pseudo-democratic ruling by the courts.
I hope the Corpo fights back!!!!
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Yes, even though I think the monument is probably a terrible waste of money – a kick in the teeth to the people living nearby that eally need it – it would look impressive. For that reason I think it’s a shame to lose it. Really though, I reckon it’s not a luxury we can afford yet. There are too many other projects to deal with – as highlighted on this forum. Such as the fact that Dublin is a messy and architecturally impoverished city. We have to clean it up stylistically etc.
Paris was already amazing before the Eiffel Tower went up [thank God they kept it..]- Dublin is a KIP. Sorry, but it is.
Let’s sort out what we have first yes?
Otherwise we’re just wallpapering over the cracks with expensive showy monuments.
Someday I hope the spire is built.
By the way – I wondered: because of it’s sheer height, wouldn’t it just look like a massive cylindrical flag-pole from the ground? The taper merely mistaken for an effect of perspective?
Any comments on this?
John
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Yes Paris was great before the tower was built but it too had its problem areas. Don’t forget whilst Baron Hausmann was creating the Paris that we see today, Dublin was slipping into insignificance as a UK regional city. Lets face it, Dublin’s Northside was in decline between the mid 1800s until the 1990s!! Lets get on with the job! By putting this spike in the middle of O’Connell Street, we are getting the Focus back on an area that is crying out for attention.
I agree that Lancefort should stick to saving buildings under threat, by objecting to anything and everything new they are losing supporters (I’ve supported them up until now).
By the way does anybody know what the objecting artist wanted to put up? If it was one of these “Celtic Cross” backwards looking types, I shall go mad!
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Oh God – that sounds awful.
I reckon either some twee Celtic Cross thing or that conservative Classical Pillar in a fish – tank design will probably be the final piece.
Fish tank … Hey, come to think of it – why not get Damien Hirst to do it?
He could saw a town planner in half and preserve him in poitin!
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I think that it is a bad idea to erect the spike in the city centre for a number of reasons: It is a waste of taxpayers money, which could be put to better uses, it was designed by a foreign architect while here in Ireland we have a wealth of architectural talent.As such it should be stopped at every oportunity in the courts.
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In response to Gehard ridiculous comments.
I think that the spike is a good investment of taxpayers money. It will become a landmark unique to Dublin which will serve similar purposes, such as the Eiffel Tower, Sidney Opera House and the Empire State Building. All of these projects were innovative, and all received much conservative crititism. The above all became renowned tourist locations. This extra revenue compensated for all the taxpayers money.
As for the foreign architect who won the competition, has Gehard forgot that the competition was also open to Irish entries. -
I am sick of all this “its a waste of taxpayers money” bull, the cost of building the millenium spire is approx 3 million pounds. At the moment the government surplus for the 1999 fiscal year is running at 1.75 billion. The pissing little amout that it would cost to build is about the same as one weeks interest on the kitty. As for the comment about it being foreign designed and therefore couldn’t be any good anyway, lets move Gerhard into the nineteenth century (one step at a time for this guy), Gandon was foreign and he built some nice things Duhhh. Sam Stephenson was Irish and lok at some of the crap he designed. Need I go on.
I found out that the guy who objected to the spire wanted to build a tower with a glass viewing platform on top, a cross between telecom tower in London and the space needle in Seattle, except with…..public toilets at the base. Dublin moves straight into the 1950s. How very modern!!!!
Build the spike……….
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Regarding the monument on O’Connell bridge, as I recall reading about it, it was built for the Tostal or similar 1950’s festival. It was dumped in the Liffey by a group of high-jinking students who thought it alien culture. No doubt, many of them went on to be FF tds and developers who thrashed other stuctures that they thought represented an alien culture!
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In response to Gerhard’s comment about tax payer’s money, and it is also in response to people who think that the Government should not have bought Farmleigh – Of course more public money should be spent on Education, Health, Social Welfare but money should be spent on the arts also. A government has to kep all the balls in the air. it is a shame that this country, which has such an excellent record in literature, art and music should fall down when it comes to Architecture. The reason -IGNORANCE. Public awareness of Architecture should be raised. A competition won by a foreign Architect is a good way of doing this. At least everone is talking about Architecture now which is a good first step.
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in response to gehard’s comment. why don’t we just get an irish architect to design a similar spike so as you can say it was designed by an irish architect. i’m sure that me and the lads could get enough cash together to sponsor the building of the spike so as not to take money from the taxpayers. given a bit of time everyone will think the spike looks deadly.
yours…
Bono -
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Although I sincerely wish to see the Millennium Spire installed;It would be a magnificent landmark for the city in the 21st century especially when the upgrading of O’Connell Street is complete,however,to
compromise with it’s objectors/fuddy duddy cranks and to compliment the Anne Summers
’boutique’ why not erect a huge dildo instead. A more fitting monument for the strumpet city. -
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Work is commencing on the paving of O’Connell Street today around the area of the GPO and Easons/Penney’s as the bus stops have been moved down further.
They’re finally getting their fingers out.Anyone concerned about the building on Moore Street where the 1916 rebel leaders agreed to surrender.
Demolish it to pave the way for redevelopment?……..or incorporate it into the new proposed redevelopment?
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Hopefully a good modern design could incorporate this historical structure into its complex.
Moore St. is very much a real urban Dublin market and I think most of the traders there would disagree with your opinion. Real markets, from the many I have been to, are filthy affairs – sure, it could do with some better cleaning but I wouldn’t like to see it turn into some sort of polite Temple Bar market.
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I see that there is a planning permission sign for satellite dishes to be mounted on the roof of that old Bank of Ireland between Clerys and Ann Summers. A Bookies is due to set up shop here soon, I believe, so if you don’t think its appropriate for this location maybe an objection would be an idea?
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Its an English chain of commercial (i.e. not very sleazy) sex shops which aim at the mass market.
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I can’t belive the arrogance of that chain, that they flaunt their ‘wares’ blatently through their expansive windows without the slightest consideration for the st, esp after the controversy over it’s opening.
Now I’m not one to be easily offended, nor a typical ‘Liveline, its a disgrace’ contibuter, but an exercise in a little more modesty woundnt go amiss.
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Really how can a few dildos take away from O’Connell street? Ann Summers is the sexshop equivalent of an Enid Blighton story and its customers are cherrycheeked and middle class in the main, it also looks and smells a damn sight better than Supermacks et al. so why not?
Also on the subjest of environmental impact studies; do they consider the insulting smell of fast food ‘restaurants’ in their inquiries? -
I completly agree with pvdz as long as people don’t think that’s a souvenir shop…
Also in our days and cities is much better to assume that shops like that really exist and are serious lucrtive business instead of hiding them in “street basements”. Some people might feel “ofended” but, at least here, and because of that reason the shops’ fronts never show the “offendable” objects!
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Smells eminating from fast food shops are actually considered in planning permissions, although I’ve yet to come across a fast food chain that has had an EIS carried out.
Even harsh flouresent lighting spilling out through windows is taken into condiseration.How are Mc Donalds and Burger King etc on the st then? Well as everyone knows, Ireland did’nt have a planning system in the 70s.
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And how is it, tell me, how is it, that piles & piles of commercial waste, including the steaming remenants of Big Macs and the like, are allowed to be tossed out onto the sides of all city centre streets at 3.30/4.00pm everyday?
It has to be the most ludicrous aspect to this city (and in the overall scheme of things, thats pretty major)
Can you just imagine this happening on the Champ Eleyses, or Oxford St or Trafalgar Square?
When I pass it all every evening on O Cll St, Westmoreland, Nassau & so forth I’m absolutely mortified at the idea that even being Irish accociates me with this type of crap.It is the most disgusting practice that the city could possibly execute on itself and sends out the worst signal to all tourists and visitors.
And as Greg F says, THE SMELL!!!
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