GrahamH

I agree that most major projects in the country have been infill over the past 10 years, not that its a bad thing, most of it was either filling in the holes in Dublin from the 70s and 80s, or sticking bits on to expanding businesses and institutions around the country during the boom years.

Of course there have been major ‘stand alone’ developments, but not that many.

I’d include the IFSC if thats not going back to far – late 80s/early 90s, its facade flanking the quays and the rear of the Custom House is worthy of acclaim, not to mention how it echos Busaras, even if some are bored of it now.
And of course how it rejuvinated a whole area of the city at the instigation of Charlie Haughey (and others)

These were some of the earliest buildings built on the Green in the late 17th century, although most were since adapted by the Georgians – some had gable ends facing onto the Green – and the way they were adapted in the 18th century is still evident today in that some of the window proportions and positioning are not standard.

When the Corporation first laid out the different plots in 1680, they purposely made them differenrt sizes so as to appeal to both wealthy and less well-off people.
Admittedly this does not fully explain why the south side in particular is so jagged, indeed some of the buildings are slanted at very weird angles…

My point is that Irish television refuses to indulge in any sort of coverage of ‘colonization’ objectively or otherwise.
I don’t suggest that we be PC and glorify everything British and avoid any sort of ‘nationalism’,but ANY coverage of our built surroudings from the 18th and 19th centuries would be welcome – British or otherwise.

And I most certainly don’t agree that the Anglo Irish were oppressive towards the ‘natives’ because they were Irish – they did so because of the culture at the time – wealth v destitution.
In Britain – rural folk were equally oppressed and poorly treated, not necessarily on the same scale as here as estate cottages etc were provided, but the ‘colonizers oppressing the natives because they’re natives’ theory dosn’t wash to a large extent – although I accept that many landlords were far from sympathetic to Irish simply because they were Irish.

You say there is a love for the mores of the previous oppressors on this board – of course there is a love for these structures here, but not because they’re British, or because we feel we must be objective and PC and cast all ‘nationalisim’ to one side, but because they’re old, many exceptionally beautiful and worthy of aclaim.
This is an architecture site after all – I put it to you asdasd that you are reading a little to much into our contributions!

If we wait for the street’s completion, it won’t be cleaned til 2048!

Perhaps Rory’s drunken building is as it is because it follows the plot layout of the original buildings on the street.
Jervis St being one of Dublin’s first ‘modern’ streets from the early 18th century more than likely had buildings jutting out in steps, so typical of 17th century streets.
Does anyone remember what was on the site before the current building went up?

The graveyard last night was amazing, is there any such private graveyard in Ireland?
If I could vote though, it would be for Adam’s house in Scotland, what a gem.

At least he knows what he’s talking about, even if he utterly dominates over the woman, she being reduced to scraping paint of the walls in every episode.

I love this series, the production values are amazing, we tend to gloss over the reconstructions as mere wallpaper but they’re excellently made.

And what is so important overall is that what makes the series are it’s subjects, the buildings themselves.

I was only thinking of an Irish version last night, Henrietta St sprug immediatly to mind, but of course there must be structures in every town in the country worthy of such treatment.

But as to the idea that 3/5 million be sunk into a country house in this country seems unlikely to say the least, not least with RTE on board, remember the BBC series ‘Servants’ a few months ago, RTE purposely kept a low profile in it’s making largely because of it’s subject matter – country house , oppressive British, Irish people not interested in such Anglican content etc etc.

There’d more likely to be a series about the saving of dolmens and cist graves, they, apparently being more ‘Irish’.

RTE seems to think that Ireland was a twilight zone between the building of Newgrange and 1916, nothing was built, nothing happened
(oh, except the Famine of course – as always a wonderful nostalgic, nationalist tear jerking opportunity)

They’re replacing the naff 80s shopfront with a ‘stone finished’ front as their application reads.
Suffice to say the building is protected, and in no way will ‘historic elements’ be meddled with.
And I think some snazzy silver back-lit ‘Penneys’ lettering is going up as I recall, in place of the nearly flat white plastic rubbish that was there before.
It’s all part of their massive extention out to Parnell St in that equally snazzy building that’s gone up recently – which is also to house a new Peats ‘Superstore’ to contain even more unashamedly over-priced produce.

I must admit to liking the corner windows on Roches, but then again the corner windows that were there before were a rare example of good 60s design in Dublin.

And over a month on from when it’s cleaning contract was handed over to a private company, has it been cleaned?

……..tumbleweed………………………………..

I don’t mean the design, I’m talking about the scale of the building – as I say they’re only trying to make the place look better which has to be welcomed, ie they’re making the best out of a bad situation.
Nothing can take away from the massive scale of the structure, and the new white finish only serves to highlight it’s size.

What would I propose?
Aside from razing it to the ground – if I even suggest the word window, there’ll be a backlash of ‘windows are soooooo over-rated’ etc, so I’ll stay quiet on the issue.