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There are so many different images of Liebskind’s Performing Arts Centre floating around that it’s impossible to guess what it will actually look like. The model photos that I linked to in a previous post (which look fantastic) are marked 2004 so I’d assumed that they had been superceded by the much less interesting images of a metal clad/glass front object as shown in the rendering of the square.
However, Sunday’s Tribune published a supplement on the dockland developments including an image of the PAC which looks much closer to the model version than the metal version – and it included the red pavement, angles on the ground etc.
@Graham Hickey wrote:
This unique setting in Dublin of a mansion house framed by flanking purpose-designed terraces ought not have been touched with a barge-pole. This fashionable concept of inserting new structures into highly sensitive locations simply on the basis of their ‘radical’ materials has reached ridiculous proportions at Charlemont House – the idea having garnered acceptability amongst the architectural elite is now flung at nearly every project going, almost as a requirement in order to give the ‘conservation’ project a certain dazzle and get the tongues wagging. Some of it will be regretted into the future, and is sorely so already in this instance.
I really have to disagree here Graham, the choice in this case was fairly stark: Build the extension and allow the Hugh Lane Gallery to expand, or leave the building as it was and force the Hugh Lane Gallery to either find another, larger home or to split the collection between two buildings. To suggest that this intervention is down to “fashion” or to create “dazzle” is quite misleading as it suggests that the extension is somehow frivolous or unnescessary.
I also think people are forgetting what was there before work started on the building – a big blank plastered wall. Obviously the image of the building with nothing on either side of the townhouse is the most attractive but I think that the Gilroy Mcmahon addition strikes a good balance between practicality and aesthetics and most importantly ensures the future of the Hugh Lane Gallery on it’s current site.
The juxtaposition works for me. There’s nothing I dislike more than a modern extension to an old building either trying too hard to be sympathetic thus losing any integrity of it’s own, or lurking in the set-back shadows trying to pretend it isn’t there.
At least this extension has it’s own quality whilst clearly allowing the original facade to dominate the composition. A symmetrical extension on the other side would obviously be of beneifit so let’s hope that that’s in the medium term plans for the gallery.Does anyone have any ideas as to where a potential southside Metro should serve. My personal preference would be for it to connect from St Stephen’s Green, via Cathal Brugha Barracks, under Harolds Cross Rd and then continuing either :
South to Terenure, Rathfarnham terminating in Ballyboden
or:
Southwest to Kimmage, Templeogue, Firhouse then swinging west and possibly completing a loop with the existing Luas at Tallaght.What would then be ideal would be some form of East/West luas, Metro or even high quality bus route service from Blackrock to say Crumlin/Drimnagh via UCD Clonskeagh and Terenure which would link stops on the Dart, Luas and Metro lines thus providing a proper integrated public transport system for the southside…
I can dream can’t I! :rolleyes:
BTW, has anyone else seen the model photos on http://www.daniel-libeskind.com/projects/pro.html?ID=46 ?
Wow, just had a look on http://www.airesmateus.com – (go to projectos / urbanos)at the designs for the hotel. Whilst somewhat vague and arty the illustrations and plans really conjure up something very very innovative and exciting. I’m happy that the checkerboard pattern is actually part of the structure and programme of the building rather than just a style gesture. It’ll also be interesting to see those solid elements extrude right into the building (at least until the standard issue hotel net curtains are fitted).
The building on the opposite side of the square is actually looking a lot more interesting in reality than it does in any of the illustrations above. The breakup of the glazing is much better and the glass supporting “fins” seem to be coated with that weird colour changing film – they look golden from one angle and blue/purple from the other…It was a nice old building alright and it was extremely sneaky how they went about getting it demolished…
However in fairness, the replacement has a certain elegance – it’s a good example of a modern “grain” building as in it dosent scream too loudly for attention in the streetscape…
Quite nicely proportioned opes as well!
Still I agree that sheer greed was the driving force behind this particular corner of the development.I was actually walking around up there for the first time on Friday (after being dumped in Smithfield off the Luas because of the riots) and it’s definitely a very impressive development in general. The emphasis seems to be on quality materials and detailing which is a welcome change. Theres great permeability through the blocks, even though some of the lanes in the middle are potentially a bit grim if retailers turn their backs on them like the new “fresh” store (otherwise pretty exemplary for a supermarket) does.
It’s also quite eerie at the moment with so much emptiness – these lovely streets with absolutely nothing and noone on them. Definitely worth experiencing before tacky signage starts to colonize the place!
An awful lot will depend on the mix of retailers. If they get the balance right it has the potential to be a whole new shopping hub for the city, eventually connecting across to the new Markets area. If they can’t attract at least one or two destination retailers (im thinking Borders Books, Virgin Megastore, NikeTown, etc) then i’d see them having huge difficulty in making it a viable and vibrant place to travel to to from the city core to shop.Can we assume that you have a problem with the reopening of the Western Rail Corridor? A simple to execute, cost effective and viable scheme which will have huge advantages for the region served not least the development of proper commuter services for the rapidly growing cities of Limerick, Galway and eventually Sligo.
Maybe you dont, but your piece (which is pretty funny and fantastically absurdist!) does seem like a bit of a thinly veiled attack on the project!I actually think it’s a reasonable enough building as well, the mount st. facade anyway, or at least it was before the bloody paint job – I just noticed it the other day and it really is unbelievable – the most sickly beigey pink and it completely jarrs with the bronze windows…
At least the previous finish had a somewhat natural look with tonal variations and visible aggregates etc. – and it blended in much better into the streetscape. Now it really does scream for attention…
Obviously the building is a disaster that it caused the destruction of an important piece of Dublin’s historic fabric. However it is quite well proportioned and about as sensitive to it’s surroundings as any modernist building in the location could be. The current roofscape is atrocious though as is the completely dead and dismal ground floor area. A bit of a revamp could have solved these problems. Instead they completely destroy the building with a totally unsuitable paint finish – The mind boggles as to who thought this was a good idea.
And since theres no going back now I’d tend to agree with previous posts – Get the bulldozers in or do something radical like painting it a crazy colour. I actually really like the purply blue image above!
Who are the Architects?
I’m assuming (please god!) that it isn’t De Blacam & Meagher despite the completely blatant rip offs of elements of both Castle Street (check out the steps out in the facade above the corner entrance), and the Wooden Building in Temple Bar (the rustic arts & crafts style brickwork and lime mortar.).#2 looks very like the office block beside Herbert Park Hotel – but I’m not sure whether it has an internal corner like that or not…
Its one or the other in my opinion – And I prefer the U2 tower by a LONG way. That rendering of the other tower looks revolting…
Where did that image of the U2 tower come from? I assume it’s the 100m version – it’s a massive improvement on the competition winning scheme and really looks quite dynamic and elegant. I hope it goes ahead in this form.
The other tower proposed for the next door site is a complete mess and should never have gotten planning. Hopefully something can be done to stop it from going ahead and ruining the effect of what could be a really spectacular landmark structure.
I assume your’e talking about the Limerick County Council Offices by Bucholz McEvoy – one of the most interesting and environmentally innovative buildings completed in Ireland in recent times. Just a pity about it’s context, cast adrift amidst the very worst of commercial tin box architecture….
Some pictures of the “Augi” as it is known in Galway –
It was obviously quite lovely in it’s time and very ornately decorated. At some point in it’s history – most likely the 60s all of the decoration was removed or covered over, the entire church carpeted and some quite beautiful modern stained glass installed:
It has been in this slightly sad state up until the current renovations. Numerous problems with water penetration, wheelchair accessibility etc. resulted in the nescessity for a complete overhaul of the church. In my opinion however they are going a bit too far, especially in adopting the central altar approach as in Maynooth:
Apparently the church will also be used for recitals, performances etc. which goes some way to accounting for the “flexible” layout. However the chances are that we will be left with yet another sterile and vacuous space where once there was meaning and purpose. The church re-opens on the 18th December.
@Neo Goth wrote:
North Cathedral in Cork
BEFORE
AFTER
@Praxiteles wrote:
Would I be right in saying that Richard Hurley was the architect for both of these particular “reorderings”? It’s just that he is currently undertaking the renovations of the Augustine Church in Galway City Centre and his scheme, according to a recently published illustration, consists of the japanese – style screen as seen in Cork obscuring the (thankfully retained) high altar and exactly the same wooden altar, seat, pulpit and seating arrangement as in Maynooth… Very disturbing considering that many of the congregation will be housed in the aisles with views into the Nave obstructed by columns…
Very sad to see the same mistakes being made over and over again in churches around the country.
Good to see some of the nice stuff happening in Galway on here! Both buildings are excellent with a few minor concerns – for one thing copper is being really overused in Galway! And the cinema has one really dodgy facade that is unfortunately very visible when coming in from the Dublin Road – its a pity the design didn’t carry through… It’s forgiveable though when the rest of the building, inside and out, has such flair…
Btw, that Tecu site has some fantastic images of Herzog DeMeuron’s new museum in San Francisco as well as lots of other interesting projects…
Zinc is a strange material and it’s quite a lot of effort to get it to work properly – all sorts of issues to do with ventilating the underside of the zinc sheets… that said it’s a beautiful material and seems to react well with the irish light…
An alternative to consider is Tecu Copper sheeting which can be obtained in a zinc-coloured finish (as well as golden, green prepatinated, natural copper and natural copper coated to stay the copper colour for ever…). Issues of honesty spring to mind and it’s a more expensive product but it’s much much easier to work with and has none of the ventilation issues of zinc…
The silvery version called Tecu Zinn is actually copper coated in tin and has a nice lustrous finish – maybe a bit shinier than zinc but should weather similarly to a pewter colour…
