GrahamH
Forum Replies Created
- Posts
I am genuinely astounded that so many people thought this had any hint of credibility, don’t know whether to be sick with laughter or be thoroughly depressed (although the former has taken place regardless :D). Never even crossed my mind that it would be taken at face value!
@Paul Clerkin wrote:ROFL – this is a joke right?
…he says with a quiver in his voice 🙂 – and this from the Master Prankster himself!
I mean really – is this what we have come to expect of developers in this country, have things really sunk so low?
Has people’s estimation of Irish planning hit rock bottom or is it just that of Mansfield?
Admittedly I’d probably have at least fallen for the sports centre anyway – but the palatial conference centre – with a Ming Dynasty roof?!Agreed – great pics sw. I passed through here a couple of days ago for the first time since the foundations for the apartments went down – what a transformation! The fact that the height of the buildings seems phenomenal despite them only being 7ish storeys really serves to demonstrate the nature of so much development in the city.
It is refreshing to see such densities being achieved here – a good example of high density not equalling high-rise.
Still a bit early to appreciate the architecture though with scaffolding etc.One thing that’s notable now is the bases of the gas burner columns – while their industrial looked great initally being new and sited in the context of a windwept plaza, now they’re stranded in a much more human, civilised space. Unfortunately they now look too crude, and tatty too…
Oh for crying out loud – I didn’t think it would be necessary but clearly another of Andrew Duffy’s !!!JOKE ALERT!!! (s) is required!
Hope you appreciate it – took me 5 weeks to build that 😀
Well no, whereas I must admit to being one of the biggest Lego fans of all time, I gave up the old Lego building and train-set-round-the-bed quite a few years ago – although theree’s still a few bits and pieces about…
My favourite part is the multi-storey car park with the little cars trundling about on top 🙂
And the one with the kid attending the champagne-fuelled unveiling.Here’s a close-up of the tower block – don’t know what AT are on about, I think it’s a rather striking piece of contemporary design – elements of Le Corbusier to it…
From today’s Times:
Developer Jim Mansfield yesterday revealed revised plans for his controversial convention centre at City West on the outskirts of the capital located next to his flagship 4 star, 725 bedroom City West Hotel. Describing the design for the centre as “innovative and uniqueâ€, the developer settled upon a hybrid of styles, with influences ranging from the French Baroque the Palace of Versailles to The Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square.
However the conference centre is but one element of a much larger scheme which was unveiled with great pomp and ceremony in City West yesterday.
Most controversial is a landmark 13 storey office tower planned adjacent to the centre which An Taisce have announced they intend to object to, describing its height as “excessiveâ€. They also characterise the design of the structure as “gimmicky†and “utilitarianâ€, in particular citing the use of grey concrete as cladding for the tower which they claim is out of character with the established vernacular of yellow ABS plastic brick. Complete with roof-top air conditioning plants and associated ancillary services, the tower rises to some 49m, just 11m short of Liberty Hall according to an An Taisce spokesperson, adding, “It is arrogant in the extremeâ€.
A 20,000 space multi-storey car park is also planned, which by established convention in Ireland is actually larger than the conference centre itself. This is expected to be the primary attraction of the whole complex and hence will be fitted out to the highest standards.
The other flagship element to the scheme is a sports and leisure complex next to the centre which can be converted to accommodate larger displays and exhibitions. By virtue of the international clients expected to be attracted to the centre, it was decided an architect would be needed for this phase of the project.
A striking piece of contemporary architecture, it makes use of an innovative structural steel system developed in Sweden and features the largest unsupported roof-span in Ireland. However Mr Mansfield does concede that unlike the hotel, it may not be ‘everyone’s cup of tea’.
Although yet to be built, a proposed Luas line is included in the plans running along the eastern side of the site. The developer is confident that the line will be under construction by the time the complex opens. It is planned to arrive at the site by running down the median of the M50. An ambitious high density, high rise, two storey apartment development is proposed next to the line. It is difficult to anticipate how the Irish market will react to this radical new form of living.
Finally an exotic new main street entitled ‘Palm Drive’ is planned for the complex, lined with offices and apartments. There is expected to be high demand as Spar, Centra, Super Valu and Mace have already snapped up all retail units in the development.
Yes the Baileys job was done before Christmas with a guy up on a cherrypicker, and to make it more prominent they’ve re-clad the border which used to be a more reticent white, if that’s the word, in bright red! And yet as the plan rightly points out:
“The colours used on any advertisement structures or signs will be required to
respect the prevalence of tertiary colours established by the building materials on
the buildings in the area. Therefore substantial areas of bright or garish primary
or secondary colours will not be allowed as the background of any sign. More
prominent colours may be used in individual lettering on signage.”Even if this applies to new signs, surely it also does to alterations of older ones, especially when the most significant, not to mention most reviled sign in the city and the specimen the Plan almost singles out for particular attention?!
How can the CC enforce such plans – how can they possibly incentivise the removal of such a cash cow, it must be earning the owners a fortune. In the closing section of this plan it is stated that the removal of all specified signs will be achieved by “Secure[ing] the removal of all advertisement structures highlighted in the Scheme for the Area of Special Control” i.e it doesn’t say how! Anyone know?
21/1/2005
Well a year on and the definitive answer to this issue was to be found on the radio this morning. Robert Mitchell, owner/director of Mitchell and Son was talking to Pat Kenny about the history of the company, and sure enough as Aierlan described they were indeed located in the Grafton St building.
They set up in 1805 as a confectionary and teashop on the site and continued right through til the 1950s when they finally moved to Kildare St.
So during their tenure on Grafton St they must have rebuilt their rickety old Georgian premises in the fashionable 20s style. The cafe seems to have been a place to be seen so it must almost have been a requirement for them to rebuild to keep up with the fashions of that supposedly hectic decade. So in risking their estabalished status, they put the two dates up on the facade.It was noted how they must be kicking themselves now at the loss of that prime piece real estate in favour of dingy old Kildare St. Think it would be the more presence of McDonalds in my family’s building that would annoy me 🙂
It’s amazing – you’d never expect it given the impression offered outside.
It’s still a shame I think about the new canopy though – still find it inappropriate to the building and unattractive in its own right. And why was a box-like canopy even needed if they were going to use the LED screens anyway for film listings? If anything, the making of the old box sign redundant afforded them an even greater opportunity for a striking new slimline canopy and they ignored it.As part of the O’Connell Street Special Planning Control Scheme, all existing ‘offensive’ signage is designated for removal. Here’s the listing of all earmarked signage; whilst a bit long is interesting nonetheless. The incident on the street during the week reminded me, as the Chas F Ryan sign, despite being long-redundant, was such a designated sign yet was not removed. What a shame it finally came down in such tragic circumstances.
Signs Designated for Removal
Bailey’s – 3rd – 5th Floor Level – 34 Bachelor’s Walk/56 O’Connell Street Lower.
Internally illuminated group mounted plastic signs – no relationship to the
buildings or to the area. The scale and dimensions of the structure are
inconsistent with the character of the Architectural Conservation Area and the
proposed Area of Special Planning Control and almost totally obscure the upper
floors of the buildings. Its prominent location at the main entrance to O’Connell
Street from the south city seriously detracts from the visual character of the area.
Windsor Motor Hire – 3rd – 5th Floor Level – 33 Bachelor’s Walk – group mounted
neon tube lettering – no relationship to the buildings or area. The scale and
dimensions and design of advertisement structure are out of keeping with the
historic character of the area and its form significantly disrupts the composition of
the upper floors of the building on which it is mounted. Its prominent location at
the main entrance to O’Connell Street from the south city seriously detracts from
the visual character of the area.Canberra Trivision Advertising Hoarding – 1st Floor Level – 34 Bachelor’s Walk –
no relationship to the building or to the area. The advertisement structure
obscures part of the first-floor windows and detracts from the character of the
building. Its prominent location at the main entrance to O’Connell Street from the
south city seriously detracts from the visual character of the area.
Irish Nationwide – between 1st and 2nd floors and 4th and 5th floors – 1 Lower
O’Connell Street – internally illuminated and individually mounted lettering.
Although the structure has a clear relationship with the use of the building, the
size, position and materials and use of internally illuminated lettering detract from
this protected structure including the fenestration and stone finishes. Its
prominent location at the main entrance to O’Connell Street from the south city
seriously detracts from the visual character of the area.
20Trivision Advertisement Structure – 3rd Floor – 43/44 Lower O’Connell Street – (Manfield Chambers)
no relationship to building use. The advertisement structure obscures one of the
window openings on this building and interferes with its historic character.
Its prominent location at the junction of Abbey Street and O’Connell Street
seriously detracts from the visual character of the area.
(I said this had been removed before – it hasn’t)Jameson’s – 1st – 2nd floor – 108 Marlborough Street – projecting internally
illuminated plastic figure. This advertisement structure is displayed at a
prominent location at the junction of Marlborough Street and Abbey Street. Its
scale, dimensions, form, materials and illumination do not respect the
architectural character of the area. Its relation to the use of the building (a public
house) is considered marginal, as the sign advertises a brand rather than any
service or product specific to the area.Funland – between 1st and 2nd floor – 67 Upper O’Connell Street – mounted neon
lettering – advertisement structure related to use of building. The scale,
dimensions and location of the advertisement structure detract from the building
and adjoining structures and it is considered to be inappropriate and injurious to
the character of the area.Ambassador Cinema – fascia level – Parnell Street – plastic fascia board. The
plastic fascia board displayed on this building is not in keeping with the
architectural character of this very important protected structure and obscures the
stone parapet wall above the main entrance. Furthermore, due to the visual
prominence of this building that terminates the axial vista starting at O’Connell
Bridge, the display of such a large and insensitive structure is detrimental to the
visual and architectural character of the surrounding area.Savoy Cinema – fascia level – 17-18 Upper O’Connell Street – plastic fascia
panel. This structure is related to the use of the building. The depth of the fascia
panel, together with the extensive use of plastic, render this structure out of
character with the upper floor façade of this building which contributes to the
character of the area.Broadway Amusements – between 3rd and 4th Floor Levels – 8 Lower O’Connell
Street – mounted lettering on panel. This advertisement structure has been
poorly maintained, is in poor condition and a number of the individual letters are
missing. It detracts from the upper floors of this protected structure and from the
character of adjoining structures in the area.Chas F. Ryan – 32 Lower O’Connell Street – between 1st and 2nd floor levels.
Individual letters mounted on metal bar. The lettering mounted on this building
would appear to relate to a previous use. It detracts from the upper floors of this
protected structure and from the character of adjoining structures in the area.Two Advertisement Panels – gable wall – 145 Parnell Street (North Great
George’s Street) – no relationship to use of building. These advertisement
structures are displayed in a very prominent location at the entry point both to the
O’Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area and to North Great George’s
Street – one of the finest Georgian streets in the city. The presence of these two
panels at this very sensitive location detracts from the architectural character of
the two streets in question.Yes – even if someone nicks Malton’s Views before you do 🙁
Must take another look now that I think of it…Rather ominously, the very day that article was published about the Dept of Health disposing of Hawkins House and its proposed demolition was announced, my copy of the Destruction Of Dublin finally fell apart…
The very day – and also just after the idea of selling Liberty Hall was floated!Very spooky…
Yes – was thinking of having a go!
“Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane has commissioned “Tisch Tennis Tisch”, a monument to leisure by artists Declan Clarke & Paul McDevitt which will be located north of the Spire, on O’Connell Street, Dublin City’s main thoroughfare.
Communism is curated by Grant Watson and while the primary site of the exhibition is the Project Arts Centre, “Tisch Tennis Tisch” is the exhibition’s sole outdoor artwork, the piece is also a particular Hugh Lane Off-Site project.
The piece is a concrete table tennis table which will be sited on the central median of the street. Table tennis matches and various events will be scheduled at the site to “activate” the sculpture during the exhibition. Dublin Tourism will facilitate the pick up and return of table tennis bats and balls from its nearby office. Fitzgeralds Table Tennis Shop, sponsors of the Irish Team, will sponsor the bats and balls for the duration of the exhibition of the Table on O’Connell Street.
For Communism ten contemporary artists have been invited to consider the word communism and ways in which this term can be materialised and have been commissioned to produce new work in response.”
On the statues on the street, I think it’s capable of absorbing a couple more at the northern end, esp just after the Spire.
On the whole though, it is surprising how few statues there are on the street considering its fame in this regard.
There’s only O’Connell, Smith O’Brien (who I used to think was Gladstone for some reason :confused: ), Sir John Gray, Larkin, Fr Matthew and Parnell.Indeed contrary to common belief, there has never been a concerted effort to line the street with memorials to leaders etc – it just happened organically, perhaps with the exception of Larkin,and even then his siting has an historical resonance anyway, whatever about taking the street into account.
It’s also interesting how there isn’t any explicitly ‘British’ ones left over from the past like in other places in the city, again in opposition to what’s commonly percieved.(Just to note the Chas F Ryan sign has since been completely removed from that building)
This side of the street is probably one of the most unnoticed terraces in the city because everyone mushes in on that pavement directly below Ballast House; the opposite side from where it can be seen being rarely used.
There’s some more Victorian additions on the remaining WSCs there too, excluding Bewleys.Here’s the remaining four on the east side of the street – all retaining their beautiful original granite dressings.
Look at how utterly horrendous Spar is, esp how it forces the ground floor windows to perch atop that yoke of a shopfront.
Presumably these buildings could be easily restored to their former glory – indeed it’s surprising how many Georgian sashes have survived in spite of all the other alterations, some of which look 20th century.Also here’s the corner building on the opposite side next to Bewley’s. Interesting to compare the gable fenestration with that of Devin’s earlier pic – there may well have been windows in the blank area of the wall originally, let alone the blind granite mouldings.
Also what’s with all the fans scattered all over this facade – presumably for bathroom/wardrobe ventilation or something – they look awful. They run down the front facade too.
Always thought it a bit dodgy for hoards of schoolkids alright, but sure feck them – shove em in the lift I say 😀
It consumed another too I’m afraid – currently an average replica added on the side. A better replica that the ICS (frankly they’re not even on the same planet) but not great all the same.
The Ballast Office chimney is one of the greatest losses – what a spectacle, almost back to the days of Tudor chimney-wars 🙂
The measure is the equivalant to that of an outright ban on objections themselves for most people – certainly that is the effect intended.
Has this not yet been addressed by Europe – didn’t they decry any charge for making an objection as unlawful and that the Govt would be retracting the current standard €20 charge, let alone this outrageous proposal?
Well if that’s what was needed then so be it – it’s fantastic!
Great running down the very centre in a hurry – makes you feel all big and powerful like you’re in the movies – um, or so I’m told…
😀
Ah, that explains a lot – feel so much better now actually, that’s annoyed me for years!
Ironic in a way then that the replica of the Ballast Office repeated these incongrous additions!Looking at the Brocas print in hindsight actually proves your point about the additions – I’ve a poor copy so it was always too difficult to clearly make out the wndows dressings without knowing for sure.
Interesting to see at the moment that Ballast House is having to advertise itself for letting as a ‘modern office building’ – modern interior or not (and a crappy one at that) – the demolition backfired 🙂
