GrahamH
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Thanks for that – as it happens I was only in Greenes this morning and what did I see in a railway book for the very first time only a picture of that very bridge!
Presumably it was removed to allow the DART overhead lines to pass through. Where did it ‘land’ on the original rail-shed side?I see the ‘is it pavement, is it roadway?’ problem is being addressed on the median with the installation of large steel studs along its kerbstones to delineate the edge of the raised area.
They look quite well, they’re about 3 inches in diameter and are lightly ribbed in a fashion similar to that of the Spire’s base plate. They’re only going down now so it’s difficult to see what the full impact will be. One thing that is evident though is that it’s a pity they’re not LEDs.A laughable display of populisim – really quite embarrassing to watch. One after the other, as regular as clockwork.
Yikes – if that’s not a strong enough an indicator to avoid the stuff by a mile I don’t know what is!
I was wondering this only recently, if you could paint them – considering the amount of tatty specimens around all ready.
The link below describes a PVC paint that’s available that goes directly on without a primer – as to whether it works I don’t know. I suspect that cracks will appear at the brittle corner joints of the frames pretty early on, regardless of what you use, whatever about peeling.
The cracking of window frames and handles as you mention is becoming a big problem now in schools and similar insitutions, where components break off from a lot of use and being battered about, but cannot be replaced. I’ve seen brand new PVCs tied with string to hooks screwed into window cills to keep them closed.
http://www.uktvstyle.co.uk/HomesAndProperty/Index.cfm?ccs=527&cs=2176Yeah, I’ve a feeling the Gherkin will take it too. Although, if the Spire’s historical and social significance is fully taken into account you never know.
The award will be televised by Channel 4 on Saturday night at 20.05. Kevin McCloud is being hauled out again.
Definitely.
I was wondering why the flow on Pearse St had altered so much – never thought of the Luas. Have to say I welcome it though cause it’s much easier to cross now!Agreed about the linking of ‘The Grand Thoroughfare’ as it’s so often described, from City Hall to O’ Cll St. What a difference it would make to the image of the city centre if nothing else, let alone the lives of those who use it. Traffic should continue to play a part on some city streets, but should not dominate as it currently does.
I think their demolition is more about ‘cleansing’ the area, than it is about rejuvinating it. Whereas I fully welcome the creation of a substantial residental element in the city centre, and so close to Luas, these buildings could be completely redeveloped and refurbished without their demolition, including retail elements.
Thanks for these dates – the brickwork seemed to date from the 30s or 50s, as did the windows, but the doorcases caused confusion with some appearing older than others. Presumably this is why the CC only wanted to delist the doorcases a while back.
I think curious is the appropriate term for describing this terrace, they are probably the only significant example of neo-Georgian (ok more pastiche than neo) in Dublin from this period, built at a time when so much of the real Georgian city was just about to be pulled down.
I agree about the Mercer St hospital extention. At least the recent cleaning of the facade and painting of the windows was carried out well. It looks stunning now.
Think the fact the heat is coming from underneath will warm the air around you on its way up anyway. I was glad to see they used a sustainable method of heating – these geothermal systems should be in much more widespread use, not least considering the amount of one-offs in this country on large plots of land.
I thought the balustrade passing over the window upstairs was awful, even if it was a building reg it could have been done better.I would have stained all of the wood a deep brown – just a personal preference. The natural look on such a scale is so B&Q 🙂
What do people make of the newly finished RCSI building on York St?
Don’t have a picture of it yet but the black corner glazing I think looks fantastic, very elegant, as is the stone detail above it.
The rest though is disappointing, faceless in design, and it also suffers from the dated and standardised nature of the stone used – polished granite. Acres of the stuff.Also on York St, notices have just gone up confirming the demolition of the fine terrace of housing. I can’t believe this is happening, all to be replaced with 5 storeys of apartments, with 7 storeys to the rear. A total of 66 apartments are to be built, with part of the site being sold off. A retail unit is planned for the corner with Mercer St.
When do these buildings date from – the terrace is mine of architectural contraditions that make it difficult to date.
Whereas it isn’t exactly uplifting in design, or form a sweeping terrace of elegantly proportioned townhouses, the block has a unique grim quality to it that is worth maintaining. Likewise the railings, plinths and doorcases are worthy of retention. The street is much more damaged by the the dour RCSI concrete lump across the road than it is by this terrace.I think one of the most unappreciated areas of the city centre is the College St/Westmoreland St junction – it’s one of the best places in the whole city, with the House of Lords and Westin and Trinity’s end pavilion all facing onto it, as well as the stock of College St itself.
There is real potential here to improve and extend the island, including the removal of the toilets there. The Moore trees have been cut over the summer so you can see him now, he looks quite well with the shady canopy floating over his head.
I’ve an interesting pic of an effort to improve here in the past with a line of trees planted along the roadside, probably in the 60s – they’re gone now.What were Gleeson’s views on any form of metro, and the Luas link for the Green & Red lines?
Are there plans any further such debates – anooyed I couldn’t make it.
Lovely – one thing that really gets me though with church conversions, something that was done in this project, is the mess made of the windows. I have yet to see a decent treatment of slender gothic windows in any church conversion. They always have bulky chunky opening parts either in the middle of the window or lumped in at the bottom, as was the case here.
Otherwise a great project, the treatment of the stonework was meticulous – the tower looked amazing when restored, and the view of it from inside was a good idea, reminded me of the lovely view of Connolly Station’s cupola through the terminal roof 🙂
Would have liked a bit of background and history of the place, it was surprising virtually nothing was mentioned.On a large scale yes, but small amounts on large expanses just for the sake of it is pure vandalisim, esp on brand new structures where an effort has been made to make them presentable. Suppose a difference should be made between the ‘tradition’ of plastering grotty railway infrastructure with the stuff, and spraying more human-scale objects & structures that people have contact with.
I think it really offends though when it’s carried out on stone walls, such as those classic ashlar limestone bridge supports, and other older elements. It’s terrible to see them defaced like that.
Not sure – it always looks dirty so I don’t even bother looking at it anymore! It’s nice that people sit against the Spike, even if they do get in the way – suppose it’s that simple desire to be connected with with something so dominant and powerful.
Here’s a pic of the Savoy phil, knew I had one here somewhere.
It was taken a couple of years ago – so it’s contrasted here with the new sign. Irritatingly it doesn’t look too bad in the pic 🙂
