GrahamH
Forum Replies Created
- Posts
The situation isn’t exactly clear cut here but I see your point alright Diaspora. This entire facade’s window stock is made up of a particularly nasty variety of replacement steel window which appear to have been put in in the 50s, and make the building look like a Russian mental asylum.
What’s happened is that rather than replacing the tens and tens of frames with original sashes, the deteriorated opening parts of a few have been replaced with PVC parts – attached to the steel frames – which makes such a mess it has to be seen to be believed. I didn’t think it was even possible to do that – unfortunately it is.Saying that, the PVC appears to be quite a few years old – if it makes it that bit more excusable. But still, especially considering the new Luas stop and regeneration of the immediate area, not to mention the beautiful architecture here, there is no excuse now for wooden sashes not to go back in.
The neighbouring rear of the Four Courts looks fantastic with its sombre brown sashes and rustic granite. Some of its windows even have some shimmering cylinder sheet glass intact.Yep – they’re cropping up everywhere and are a welcome addition. Some are keeping the old poles but have the new grey light units, such as round the Custom House/IFSC. Think they’re on Abbey St now too. Not only do they look good, but they actually work too, improving the experience for pedestrians with loud sound alerts and working bulbs in the button units etc.
Hopefully they’ll be well maintained.Agreed – past those retail parts yesterday and they’re in a terrible state. The foyer inside though is magnificent, an bizarre contrast to the exterior and manky Upper O’Cll St.
A cleaned upper facade would be a great improvement, but would probably make the existance of the new canopy even more unfortunate! It does need to be cleaned though, it’s the centrepiece of this whole terrace, with the Gresham and Hammam Buildings forming the other two flanking ‘white bits’ either side.
Also, just seeing the footage of the Pope’s visit from 1979 last night reminded me that’s it is exactly 25 years today or yesterday since the building on the derelict site across the road collapsed after the fire. Suppose next month is the true anniversary of the creation of the dereliction though, when both buildings were demolished. And to think that after nearly 10 years of boomtime and supposed ‘urban enlightenment’ it is still there. What is state of affairs regarding the court case – is it in recess or something?
Agreed – I never liked the BOI on Suffolk St and am usually a fan of STW’s buildings from this period. The window clutter and monotony is unfortunate. Norwich House is horrendous, it’s filthy now as well as being ugly – is Blarney House actually called that?! Suits it down to the ground.
Very difficult to cart sideboards down pedestrianised streets!
I agree about leaving Capel St alone, whereas ped streets are appealing, at the end of the day the road has played an integral part in urban centres for centuries. I think the problem is the sheer volume of traffic using these streets, rather than the very idea of traffic in these locations. Improved pedestrian priority and better pavements etc can make a world of difference alone.
‘Planning for the coffee drinker’ – heh heh, good one Phil. I agree about such places taking over in some areas, but they can certainly help turn streets around, places like, oh I don’t know – O’Connell St 😉 But there’s nothing like a decent row of traditional shops without chrome-mania outside the door – now stacks of chippendales and fire surrounds, that’s a different story 🙂
Why would they be a different standard?
The newly opened ‘cave’ underneath Connolly looks fantastic with the stone clad walls – so unusual. The stone of the infamous disputed boundary wall looks equally good.
Are there definite retail plans for that BOI? That would definitely alter the character of the area – like the idea of a link with Suffolk St.
Good to see that work with Davis, there’s also a couple of weird lamposty poles gone up on the Green recently, don’t know what they’re for – one at the crossing at the BOI, the other outside Trinity.
Agreed. I have heard many Kerry people in the media inraged at what is happening in their county
At the same time, decent planning, architecture, conservation etc all are issues that people tend to think are only represented in landmark projects or buildings, and tend not percieve these areas as extending to everyday development or one’s own development in a local area.
I must admit to not having partaken in in your poll though, simply because I know nothing of planning in Kerry and haven’t been there for about 12 years now. So whereas the evidence suggested here and elsewhere indicates that there are ‘issues’ in the county that would help in forming an opinion on the matter similar to what the poll says, I cannot judge for myself. Yet.But it’s different on the bridge – people use it to rush to the other side of the river, using it as a corridor, whereas the street is more laid back with strollers etc. Although fair enough, with the bridge paving widened the stalls wouldn’t get in the way as much.
I don’t advocate hoarding round seated areas, in fact none at all is better, although simple chrome poles with that ribbon stuff or wire can look well. The sheets that are wrapped around the place on the Boardwalk are awful.
Yikes – someones been doing the sums 🙂
Reading back d d dallas is funny alright – I’ll chuck in a belated ‘it would be nice if’
Well current DART users get to see it anyway!
IFSC people do use the Matt Talbot, although there would be a benefit to having an overhead bridge if it meant avoiding the Tara St junction with the quays, which is a nightmare – so dangerous.
Overall though, widened pavements and ped crossings etc would be far preferable.
It would be great to sink the DART alright – one day, one day…I don’t see a point to replacing the Loop Line Bridge with a slimmer version, either keep a big lump of Victoriana (which if elsewhere in the country people would be charmed by) or restore the uninterrupted view. The bend in the Liffey looks fanatastic without it. Liberty Hall should also be knocked if the bridge were to go to restore the dominance of the Custom House.
Yeah, they’re nasty – people might percieve removing them as an act to sanitise the city centre – who cares, they look awful and get in the way of the major pedestrian flow here.
The worst part of the bridge now is the balustrading, esp the eastern side – it is disgustingly dirty. The little section around the corner opposite O’Cll Bridge House was cleaned recently, perhaps as a test patch – the contrast is stark.
I can’t wait to see the lamposts in the centre sit on some decent modern paving – they’ll look fantastic when it happens.
Considering O’Cll Bridge was really the only major improving Victorian public project in the city centre, and one that was properly finished with commissioned furniture etc, it is worthy of decent restoration and paving treatment.They must be off for a cleaning – they need it. Sitting on a wall for 80 years does no one any favours. They are lovely though, very grand & Edwardian. They are listed as part of the building as a whole.
The BOI railings are magnificent and are more than worthy of retention, esp how they match Trinity’s across the way. I see the point of a plaza here being desirable, but were that to be done with the Green at large it wouldn’t be necessary to focus on the BOI.
Those ped lights in the middle are the most frustrating in the city – no wonder pedestrians here are so indisciplined. The O’Cll Bridge median is second worst – it traps you.
College Green could be the most pleasant place in the city centre if properly pedestrianised, it has the finest buildings and is the best location. Most people would percieve it to be the heart of the city, even over O’ Cll St.The recent scheme was similar to the Trinity bridge, there’s a pic of it to the back of The Construction of Dublin.
Don’t know what happened to the plan.Obviously the Loop Line will never be removed unless as part of a greater transport or underground rail plan for the city, but considering anything like that would be at least 10 years away, it is well worth upgrading the bridge now, regardless of whether it will be affected. Painting it white would make such a difference, combined with the removal of the signs. The lattice-work is actually quite attractive, were it visible it could make a contribution to the area.
The only possible problem with white is the streaks of sooty dirt that may flow down the sides from the tracks – one need only look at the filth of the inside of the side walls.The best option by far though would be to remove it – it’s interesting that everyone knows the views of the Liffey facing west with the Ha’penny etc, but no one even bothers looking east because of the Loop Line. It divides the city in two, even moreso now with the Docklands development. The contribution a couple of so-called landmark buildings could make to city centre when viewed from there would be huge, let alone the important aspect of integrating the Docklands into the city at large, helping to eliminate the feeling of it being a private outcrop for business types.
The removal of the Loop Line itself would also restore two other views in the city, the view of the Custom House from Gardiner Street, and the other being where the railway shoots itself in the foot, the view of Connolly from Talbot St and Nth Earl St.
Considering the fashionabilty of resurrecting old threads, thought I might as well for this picture I found. Never seen it before but it was taken just before the erection of the Loop Line Bridge between 1882-89 or so.
See how the whole city centre opens up without the bridge, and the magnificent view of the Custom House, it becomes part of the city again. I’ve heard people comment before about how there was only a paltry view of it but I think this proves to the contrary, esp if you consider the view from the middle of O’Cll Bridge, or better still from the southern quays along here.Looking at the view this morning, it’s really surprising how much of the Docklands and the remainder of the Liffey can be seen as it goes out to sea. You can imagine the view with the few glimpses of the area through the bridge and piers. The removal of this bridge would have the single biggest impact on the city centre since the construction of Liberty Hall, only this time in a constructive way.
