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Talking about Guinness, isn’t the new ad fantastic I have never seen the Molly Malone statue even look ok before
@GregF wrote:
As Rory said these warehoses and wall that stretch a fair distance along the quays are quite mundane and featureless. The wall as already stated is late 20th century and the warehouses are mere galvanised tin roofed sheds, probably from around the same time too. The only feature along here that may be worth preserving is an old Victorian or later styles house. Usher’s Island here could be better utilized. I don’t think you have seen this area Nick of late.
Unfortunately we are unlikely to see any redevelopment of this area as it is apparently required for operational use. When Diageo did their sums last year it was a case of focusing on Park Royal or James’ Gate, the land at Park Royal was worth more so Dublin retained the production process. It is only a pity that Guiness couldn’t have acquired more land on the Basin St side to expand production there when land prices were modest by todays standards and free up some river frontage for rejuvination.
I agree with the sentiments expressed by Nick as a good general rule of thumb, but on closure examination there really is nothing that must be preserved at the expense of a regeneration. It really is a pity as the area South of the Liffey between Heuston and Merchants Quay needs work more than most.
In response to the Ushers Island thread, there is a major redevelopment planned on Bridgefoot St by the City Council the exact details are available from the Civic Offices on Wood Quay.
@d_d_dallas wrote:
Diaspora,
it hardly matters what goes in on Military Rd at this stage – the St John’s Rd pile of crap got ABP go-ahead…Personally I don’t have a huge problem with a historical structure having a tall modern neighbour, but I haven’t seen a proper montage to decide if this should be the neightbour!
I’m not so sure Dallas,
I am certainly no fan of the Military Rd scheme and definitely go along with the planning inspectors report on that one. I really agree with the point made by a lot of people on these two schemes that they should have been assessed as one scheme given the cross ownership and development timetables, as happened in the case of Smithfield. Which in my opinion is starting to look really well.
The Eircom scheme is certainly too close to the Royal Hospital and of poor design quality but as bad as it is it will not dominate the Royal Hospital as much as this proposal will.
In most cases I don’t have a problem with tall structures, particularly docklands warehouses being overshadowed by taller offices as I think both add a sence of quality to the other. I certainly have no problem with the Spire as it offers a pivotal landmark for the entire City and was easily the best option from a very mixed bag of entries.
But in this case the only images released have been unclear as to the materials being used and have been taken from the least helpful angles. The original model for this scheme displayed buildings at the top of Stephens Lane (The back of the Hospital) but critically none of the Royal Hospital, that is an admission in my opinion that it will have significant negative impacts.
The trick as Lexington has said is to choose locations where significant negative impacts are least likely on significant National Monuments such as the Royal Hospital, but rather to select areas with existing tall buildings such as the Western Road in Cork, or adjoining large 1920’s grain silo’s where the skyline could do with a little tweaking.
@Gar wrote:
The usual moaners will be out in full force after this. Anti bloody everything it seems, with their heads buried in the past. but i want to live in a city of the 21st century.
Gar your fetish for tall buildings has entirely stripped your perspective on the context of this proposal, all property schemes are judged on the suitability of the scheme for the location proposed.
When heritage groups raise concerns it is usually because they have particular concerns on the visual impact of a specific proposal on a building of National significance.
This proposal would have my full support were it for the AIG site on Northwall Quay or in Grand Canal Dock, but it is not for there, it is proposed in a location that will obliterate the setting of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham a 17th Century complex that is a ‘National Monument’
Why can’t any Irish architect put together a good tall building in an appropriate setting? (Excepting OMS for JR Quay that was never built or one or two others currently in for planning)
Greg,
I agree on the Kilmainham Gaol issue, it is something that heritage bodies should be more proactive on, in other Juristictions the National Trust would have the funds to acquire buildings of such importance. I would have no problem doing a building survey of it with you and putting some pressure on the authorities responsible for its custody.
@GregF wrote:
According to the Irish Times Property Supplement this morning the proposed 32 storey tower (117metres) for the Heuston Station area of the city has been granted planning permission. Could this be the mould breaker setting the precedent for the rest of the city and provincial towns throughout the country. It is the 21st century after all. Woo Hoo! …It will make it Irelands tallest building, but no doubt the objectionists will be out in force and a 2 storey inanity will be erected instead. Slumberland prevails!
See as well that a scheme has been given approval for one of the most unsightly parts of the city, Ushers Islands. It will involve the demolishion of the rubbish thats there and the construction of something more substantial.
Thr Rates Office has brought a ridiculous sense of any ‘any revenue is good revenue’ to bear, thanks be to An Bord Pleanala. It shall be thrown out, I’m all for high rise as the best solution to sprawl but this decision is the latest in a long line of DCC decisions not to stand up on realistic appraisal.
Just for clarity I want to see the montage from the centre of the centre of the Royal Hospital Courtyard,
Irelands premier 17th century setting,
Docklands needs to go higher
Correct me if I’m wrong but the tallest functional structure in urban Ireland is the eircom mast on Dame Lane. It is visually obtrusive from a number of vantage points and it is above all ugly.
Going up is a beautiful thing when an aestetically pleasing structure is designed for the right spot. Smithfield works well because it is at a very low site, whilst quite tall by Dublin standards it is starting at about 5 metres above Quay level. A building half the height on an elevated site would have more impact on the skyline. Another quite tall one is the feature tower in the Quartier Bloom scheme it works very well for a similar reason, there are also apartments in it to rent on a short term basis.
What needs to be avoided are much taller buildings on elevated sites and in the City core, the docklands are dissapointingly lowrise in character.
I agree with you on that one alpha. It just seems as if buildings as tall as that will never be built here. Not when there is such a negitive attitude toward them. 🙁
lorcan, to be honest i can’t see either of those buildings being built. this is my just my opinion on it. the southbank tower was approved years ago as far as i know but no sign of it actually being built. the heuston tower at 32 storeys will either be dropped or else seriously reduced in height.
more info on the Belgard Square project @
now that i think of it… has anyone got any pictures on how these high rise buildings might look when they are completed in tallaght?
i was just wondering… what is happening with the 13 storey tower block for the tallaght area? have they started work on it yet? i passed through tallaght the other day in my car and noticed some building work going on close to the square’s luas station. i didn’t have the time to make a closer inspection.
Along with the cranes has been listing a two acre dry dock where many of Belfasts finest ships were finished. It was this listing of the sizable dock and not the listing of the cranes that has caused most concerns to the owners. As the obvious financial hit of being unable to develop lands easily worth £20m Stg…
It is very easy for the UK/NI National trust to secure the listing of important historical properties. It is equally easy for the trust to declare properties ‘inalienable’ or in lay mans terms ensure that the lands cannot be used for any inappropriate purpose or transferred against the National Trusts will.
It is everyones interest that similar legislation is enacted here to stop situations such as Archers Garage ever happening again..
Congratulations to Dublin once more!
Dublin should be proud of it’s efforts to make the urban setting both beautiful and modern. The Spire and now the James Joyce Bridge are both examples for other cities in Europe to follow. We are eagerly awaiting the next bridge across the Liffy down at the Docklands and the extention of the walkways along the Liffy. Good luck on your urban improvement!Congratulations to Dublin and Ireland on completing the Spire!
I have followed the discussion about a new monument on O’Connell Street since an idea was presented by Shane O’Tool and given a prize on the architectural Biennale in Cracow-Poland in 1989. And the final result, as we all can see now, is a strong and fine monument which Dublin and Ireland can be proud of! “Thank you” of course to Ian Ritchie Architects, London; but also a great “Thank you” to the Dublin City Architect, Jim Barrett for the job he and the Dublin City Council has done for the Spire.
May this day give inSpiration to further fine Urban Design in Dublin, Ireland and the rest of Europe!
