darkman
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Must be 130m then. (so why does the DDDA say 120m on its website). The lack of clarity with the entire project from start to finish has been a disgrace tbh. Easy to see why its hard to take anything the DDDA says seriously anymore. Did you refer to the ‘180m’ that was mentioned for the renewable energy thingy on top when you asked? Poor old Frank got it wrong. Obviously some bright spark at the DDDA told him 180m for the laugh. The incompetence is incredible really. 🙁
To top it this is right in front of them in the Irish times. No clarification, nothing. You have to ask to get it.
@Morlan wrote:
It’s a bit of a mystery alright. I honestly can’t invisage 50/60 metres of paraphernalia hanging off the top of the tower.
Could not have put it better myself. I was thinking what wind turbines and a solar panel stretching for 60m would look like in the context of the structure and the mental image I have of it is not good. Would it be straightly vertical? It would have to be. It would change the look of the building significantly. I wonder does the fact they left it out tell us anything about the final product!?
This ‘battery’, as Frank McDonald describes it, IMO would change the look of this building significantly (60 metres high after all). Basically a liberty hall on top of the building in the render. I hope we get a render of it shortly as it would clear everything up.
As an aside its very important that we know because there is an enourmous difference between 120 and 180m. 180 tall anything will have a significant impact on Dublin.
With respect, they dont look like shafts to me and are far from bulky enough to carry 60 wind turbines and a solar panel in all honesty. I think it is just light beams drawn for effect.
Simply the ‘battery’ at the top is not on the render so I fail to see how we can even judge the building until we see more renders.
@Paul Clerkin wrote:
okay this is starting to irritate me – they say that the top of the power centre will be 180m but the building tops out at 120m — how hard is this to understand?
they say that the top of the power centre will be 180m
…….God give me strength…….lets assume that someone actually decided to attach this power center to the building……….that makes it part of the building’s structure. How small do you anticapate this ‘power center’ would be? Are you saying that it will probrably not be bulky enough to be considered an integral part of the building? If your talking about 60 wind turbines and a ‘huge solar panel’ stretching 60m above the shoulder of the building then I would regard that as sufficient to be included in the full building height – end of story. The building is either 180m high or it is not. Are you satisied with the render given Frank McDonald’s assertion this morning? The ‘energy center’ is not on that render as far as I can see.
OK so we should take it then that Frank McDonald is wrong and the actual height in total is 120m and the DDDA have knocked 10m off the original tower – well this puts a new perspective on the building itself because if thats the case it is very disappointing IMO.
You see the problem is no one from the DDDA or anywhere else AFAIK has actually said it wont be 180m. Seems a bit strange considering the Irish times is suppose to be a highly reputable newspaper.
Foster and U2 to Rock Dublin Skyline
Published on 2007-10-12 by Skyscrapernews.comMore plans have been proposed for the so-called U2 Tower in Dublin’s Docklands, this time designed by Foster and Partners.
The new plans for a largely residential tower that reaches a height of 180 metres to the tip of its pinnacle have been developed by Geranger Ltd, a joint venture between Ballymore Properties, Gerry McKillen and members of U2 as the culmination of a long competition into the future of the site.
The winning 200 million Euro proposals that beat off a second place entry from Zaha Hadid are wedge-shaped with what appears to be an undulating surface on the east and west sides but in reality is contoured to conceal the balconies of the 136 apartments.
In the crown there is an acoustically separated egg suspended in mid air housed that will be the new recording studio for the band the scheme takes its name after whilst immediately below this will be a new observation platform open to the public all year round.
A second building stands to the south that will house a hotel and the 34 affordable apartments that make the housing figures balance up. This is allows the developers to take advantage of the increased revenues in the area by combining both plots so that the main tower can be taller than the sums would otherwise be allow.
Most of the top of the structure is however given over to the creation of renewable power with solar panels and wind turbines planned to be fitted that will help generate the building’s power.
Whether the architects have factored in the hot air created every time Bono opens his mouth and the sun that shines out his backside has not yet been revealed.
This is not the first time that U2 have teamed up with developers to construct a tall building that will be topped by their own recording studio. Since 2003 numerous plans have been increased in scale from an initial 70 metres tall but fallen by the wayside including a twisting tower penned by Craig Henry Architects in 2003 that was at one point the favoured concept.
Thanks to the planning regulations that Grand Central Docks has to encourage development on the site at Britain Quay, they won’t even need to apply for permission to build. The developers hope that this time construction can begin as soon as 2008 for a 2011 completion.
@Morlan wrote:
:rolleyes: I tried. :p
Sorry, I know you did (nice pic btw, love the batman sign;) ) however im annoyed now that none of us actually know how tall this building is going to be. Are the DDDA saying they have knocked 10m off the U2 tower? I find the DDDA frustrating at the best of times but this is farcical that on this forum – on the the day the final design is unveiled that we dont know what fuppin height its going to be!?
Ive a suggestion. The DDDA has kindly given email links on its press release for more info and images if we want them. So I suggest we bombard them with requests until we know for sure. 😉
I would like Frank McDonald to clarify this because its after creating unnessacary confusion. The DDDA has said 120m – however they have not countered the 180m claim – probrably because they have not been asked! Frank McDonald however has not shown a render of this ‘energy center’ so id like to know what the sources were that told him 180m. Or maybe its the DDDA being economical with the truth because Id say it would have to go back in the planning process if they said 180m. This is very confusing.
British architect chosen to design U2 Tower
12/10/2007 – 18:06:25Internationally renowned British architect Norman Foster was today announced as the visionary behind Ireland’s first skyscraper – the U2 Tower.
The €200m scheme, which will soar 120 metres over Dublin’s docklands, will house the iconic rock band’s egg-shaped recording studio at its peak.
It was commissioned by Geranger Ltd, a consortium including property developers Ballymore and U2 members Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jnr and Adam Clayton.
Mr Foster, whose notable projects include the Gherkin in London and the Millau Viaduct in France, was chosen by Dublin’s Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) as the project‘s design winner.
Paul Maloney, DDDA Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have achieved our ambition of realising an inspirational landmark design, while at the same time maximising public usage and access.
“This design will be a very special building for Docklands and Dublin City while integrating the Britain Quay and U2 Tower buildings in a distinct and coherent fashion on the waterfront,” he said.
As well as the band’s recording studio, the inspirational building will include a public viewing platform at 100 metres, a public amenity area at the base, hotel, retail and residential accommodation including 20% social and affordable housing.
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“It will also provide visitors the opportunity to experience spectacular views across Dublin city and bay, and for the community offers significant social and affordable housing potential,” Mr Maloney said.An original U2 Tower plan – a twisting structure designed by a Dublin-based architectural firm – was to be built at a height of just 60 metres.
But following a recent planning amendment for the area, the tower was redesigned and increased to 120 metres in height with an adjoining site added.
The announcement of preferred bidder status for Geranger Ltd followed a EU tendering process where submissions from four short-listed consortia were considered.
Mr Foster is an internationally acclaimed architect, having designed some of the world‘s most iconic structures.
These include the Millau Viaduct in France – the tallest vehicular bridge in the world – the Bilbao Metro and New York‘s Hearst Tower.
The U2 Tower will be located in the Grand Canal Dock area, where DDDA is working with some of the world’s leading architects on projects such as the Studio Libeskind-designed Grand Canal Theatre, the Manuel Aires Mateus designed hotel, and the recently opened Martha Schwartz designed Grand Canal Square.
Work on the landmark project is due to begin next year with a completion date expected by 2011.
For goodness sake I dont know why this 120m figure keeps doing the rounds. I hope the DDDA correct their press release before we end up talking ourselves into building a 120m tower instead of a 180m tower:rolleyes:
Someone has it wrong. Its either the Irish times or the rest of the media. In a way im thankful that RTE told that Ringsend resident it was 120m – imagine if they said, actually its 180m!
Usual moaners on the news just now. What the hell has this got to do with An Taisce?:mad: Go away.
As for the residents I sense the NIMBYism is about to rear its head again:rolleyes: ‘Get it the hell away from ringsend’ – Well if he does not mind us asking just where the hell are we going to be able to build tall buildings in Ireland?
Also to note that standards of RTE journalism remain low. Not once was the 180m figure mentioned. Clearly just absorbed the DDDA press release.
Im a little confused about just what height this building is going to be. Frank McDonald says 180m in total yet on the DDDA website all it says is
The consortium’s architects, Foster + Partners, have proposed a stunning design for the 120 metre high tower and adjacent Britain Quay site uniquely situated at the confluence of three waterways, the River Liffey, River Dodder and Grand Canal. The inspirational building will include a public viewing platform at 100 metres
That would actually be a reduction of 10m:confused: :confused: :confused: If its 180m why dont the DDDA just say so!? Im confused – what height is it? Wind turbine sticking out of the top thatt would be 60m high would look rediculous surely.
180m!!!!!!! This is more like it!:D Not sure whether they should have dropped the twisting design though.
Strangely the DDDA dont seem to acknowledge that it is 180m high?? They say 120m?
I have to ask is Frank McDonald sure about the height? It does not look 180m high?
Any word? Im sure I could be forgiven for thinking we have been led up the garden path again:rolleyes:
Just to clarify – Is the DDDA finally to make a decision tomorrow? – and – will we see additional infomation on the tower itself I wonder:confused:
From your pictures it looks like the District center is going to be a pretty big building on its own! The footprint looks quite large.
Thats what was said on this forum recently and in some of the newspapers – whether its still true or not – I dont know:confused:
Morlan wrote:Here are the excavation works for the tower. You can see the Point Depot to the left.
Thanks for the pictures! I wonder how advanced the works are for the tower? Does anyone know if they can excavate without a fire certificate for the tower (assuming they dont have one yet)? Or does the excavation mean everythings in order with the first lift shaft going up soon?
Morlan it may be difficult to gauge from where you took the picture but can ou say how advanced the excavation for the tower might be?:)
http://www.pointvillage.ie/images/GERRYRYAN2007.jpg
:rolleyes: Sure has a quirky advertising campaign.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/1001/airport.html
http://www.dublinairportauthority.com/media-centre/press-releases/132007.html
So it begins…..
Never was a fan of Aer Rianta or DAA at the start but fair play to them for ignoring Ryanairs threats against a project that is blatantly needed urgently. I have great respect for Ryanair as a company but their motives are not for the public good regarding this project and I would hope common sense prevails on their behave. The terminal will be what it will be – its under construction – so lets just get on with it without the petty childishness. They should concentrate now on the 3rd terminal and leave this one be. Any thoughts?On a different note this means the demolition of Corballis House – the old house (that looks rather out of place, it has to said) – approaching the current terminal.
