trinity and nassau street

That is interesting Notjim. I remember mentioning that as being a possible (but unlikely) location of construction within Trinity (on the ‘Trinity due for demolition 2005 thread) and you very much thought that it would never be built on. Is this plan coming from the top, or is it just discussion within the college? I see that the Pearse Street plan got the go ahead.

Certainly development here will drastically alter the character of Nassau St – hard to imagine it at the moment with buildings on both sides.
Where would the railings fit into this scheme if retail units were to built on the ground floor?
Although, the height of the wall at present prevents any decent perspective of the grounds for even the tallest of people, so it’s not as if we’d be loosing sweeping views of greenery – but still.

As always it depends on the nature of development and its design – to state the obvious.

I was based in the Museum Building (1853-57. Architect:John Ruskin) for four years during the early ’80s and spent many an afternoon perched on on the sills of the Cartography Lab overlooking the cricket pitch. They view over to Nassau Street with the trees, the Alliance Française and even the Setanta Centre was (and still is) something quite special and unique in Dublin. I’d hate to see it go.

Nassau Street itself is a little busy these days with cars, coaches and buses but, at least its nice to see something being
done about the pavement on the Trinity side. The wall/railings running the length of the street are unfortunate and should be
resigned to history. Sadly, the best views over the cricked pitch are from the top of a bus or from the cafe in the Kilkenny Design Centre.

I believe any development in the area should consist mainly of ‘building down’, leaving the trees and extending the current level of Nassau Street as open space into Trinity. The traditional separation of the college from the outside world could be maintained with less fortress-like railings.

That’s great news for Pearse St.

I don’t agree that the Nassau St railings are unfortunate, they make a magnificent statement whilst not being overly fortress-like.
What would have been unfortunate is a rubble stone wall which Trinity could equally have built around its grounds in the 19th century.

Nassau St is one of a kind in the city centre by having buildings on just one side with railings/green views on the other (other than the squares) with the railings generating a unique character and quality to the street, indeed they are something of a landmark.
Where railings should be removed and retail installed is around the other side, on Pearse St, which drastically needs development – indeed it’s surprising Trinity of all people even bothered to put repros around here.

On a barely related topic – does anyone know what that building is outside the window of the cafe in that ridiculous Referendum Commission ad on the telly?
It looks like the Museum Building but the stone window detail is different and there’s no big windows facing it, so short of them going to Venice to shoot the thing does anyone what/where it is – Dublin or elsewhere in the country?
Sorry but it’s really annoying me – something of a minor (nervous laugh) pastime recognising buildings from details!

Is it the AIB on Dame Street?
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/southcity/dame_street/aib_damestreet.html

Was thinking of this but I think the ad has that classic jagged-effect carving outlining the arches. But the capitals and window frames seem nearly identical alright – have to see the ad again now to check!
The building seems very close to the ‘cafe’ window too.

probably from the cafe on palace street?

It would have to be across the road though for the bank to be outside the window and there’s nothing there but the Roomkeepers building and the one beside it I think…

which has a cafe…. sigh.. do you people ever leave your houses to drink coffee and talk shyte 😉

Clearly your one in the ad does – and to herself at that!

Thanks for that – never noticed it before – usually too busy drooling over the Indigent Roomkeepers (very early plate windows!) must pop into the cafe someday, probably crawling with tourists at the moment.

They are a little vague,

It would be interesting to see more detail.

Any progress on sourcing the Pearse St photos/drawings?

Should those photographs be online?

you’re kidding

Not really much information there. Not in favour of developing there anyway. Always liked the idea of the coaches and parking being given the heaveho and a nice wide pavement with trees on both sides of Nassau Street…

and those prisms look like a row of broken teeth 😉

surely ice towers would be more suited to Greenland?

maybe they’re ivory towers?

Dear Notjim and Paul

Those images of the TCD Model are copyrighted to me (Ros Kavanagh) and cannot be used without my permission. I would request that you remove the photos from this thread immediately.

Thank you

Ros Kavanagh
29-31 South William St.
Dublin 2

Excuse my ignorance but what is that model supposed to illustrate? Scale?

How is anyone supposed to know what the end product is going to look like or how it’s going to address Nassau St by looking at a model like this?

It looks very nice but does this mean something to the trained eye? To my untrained eye it virtually meaningless and if architects use models like this to convey their idea to Joe public it won’t be understood.

Thank you

The sum effect of removing the images has been to leave in the memory the fact that more greenspace is being removed.

At least with the ‘not so clear’ images there was some positive PR, now there is only a plot to cover TCD in unknown buildings.

And people wonder why architects are considered arrogant?

nothing like architects coming over all heavy about their scheme to put people’s backs up..

the railings and the view across the park from nassau street should be preserved

I agree notjim it can be done well but will it? We couldn’t tell from the model.

No green space needs be used up; there is plenty of room between the street and the cricket pitch, which is being used as a car park at the moment. That side of the Nassau St is just a bus park at the moment and there is no view of any worth from street level.

Ah yes, but what of the view from the Cricket Pitch in Trinity to Nassau Street. Even with The Setanta Centre et al this is a pleasing view. And the view from Kildare Street across the pitch would be lost too. I think this streetscape needs to be preserved, even to prevent TCD becoming more insular and inward looking!

no view? stand outside the Kilkenny shop and say there isnt a view across Trinity

If a bus/coach isn’t in your way you still have a wall and high railings in the way. I think it would be better if it was opened at points as planed at the very least.

Large plaza like entrances into Trinity in between each building would offer great views framed by the building themselves. Opening up trinity to the city and it’s people.

What ever they do I would like to see Trinity become more accessible here and I’m sure it can be done with out compromising security.

I think that Kildare St is going to end up as a bus park once the traffic changes are effected on the 4th, as it will no longer be as important a through road once the traffic flow is reversed on Stephens Green East.