Clarke Shane
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The Liffey boardwalk idea is a complete dinky toy-town effort. I have heard nothing but criticism of the idea and believe that the powers that be should have the good sense to back down from it. Continue the excellent work along the campshires certainly but this boardwalk would do nothing other the clutter a narrow river.
Have a look at the following English Partnership good practice guides:
Time for Design 2: Good practice in Building, Landscape & Urban Design http://www.englishpartnerships.gov.uk/htm/a_services/a4b.htm
Making Places: A guide to good practice in undertaking mixed development schemes http://www.englishpartnerships.gov.uk/htm/a_services/a4c.htm
The pedestrianisation of the street seems an eminently good idea – but this is not a private street and must remain open to the public (on foot and bike).
I wish to take issue with the views espressed by Andy. The primary reason that Dublin should reject the Spenser Dock proposal is in relation to urban design issues; to focus the debate on the height of the proposed buildings is to miss the point somewhat – although this issue is of considerable importance. Spenser Dock is a slice of corporate American urban design in a city which is beginning to look to an older, more civic minded, high quality, sustainable pattern of urban development in a European tradition. In this scheme private space dominates public space, corporate value(s) over civic values, profit over people. Anyone who has had the misfortune to live near Canary Warff in London’s docklands will realise what a mistake is Spenser Dock.
The Spenser Dock area is actually in the heart of the city centre. It is as close to O’Connell St as that street is to Grafton Street. As to his flipatnt view that ‘if you don’t want to live or work near tall buildings, Wicklow isn’t far away!’ – well most people do not have this option. People come before development – and I am very pro (high quality) development. Dublin does not have to stand for such a scheme.
