GrahamH
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I read that a survey conducted in 1997 showed that 70% of users of the M50, intended for national use, are Dublin commuters getting from one part of the city to the other, and that 80% of cars have 1 person in them.
Probably even worse now.Oooooooooooooooh
Most buildings from the 70s & 80s are trash because most are speculative Fianna Fail induced structures.
Thats not to say that more constructive comments should’nt be made on the site, but if you’re a fan of the exterior of the ILAC, well you’re a rare breed.(I’d make another ILAC/I Lack quip but I’m just not that witty I’m afraid)
Whats happening with the Carlton at the moment, did the CC compulsorily purchase it a few months ago?
I can’t keep up with all the feckin around on this site with Treasury Holdings & everyone else.
Assuming it has been aquired, which plan is going ahead? The one which eats up Dr Quirkeys & the derilict site and replacing them with Art Deco facades, or the other by A&D Wejchert with the inclusion of Fingal & the derilict site?
The Art Deco was so much better.
And the Moore Mall which was to begin before last Christmas ‘at the latest’?It really really should go, whatever about making wisecracks over its appearance, at the end of the day this problem is merely cosmetic.
The building’s problem lies in its height, which is grossly intrusive on the quay’s skyline and the view from O’ Connell Bridge.
If the Dept of Health were planning to build a building of the same height on the site if Hawkins never existed, there is no way on the face of the planet that it would recieve planning permission.
The OPW has a responsibility not only for the appearance of State buildings and how they are used, but also for their impact on their environments, in this case Dublin city centre.It is as responsible as any state founded or public body, whether it be the CC, An Bord Pleanala or anyone else.
For the sake of 3/4 floors, it should do the right thing for the people it claims to serve, ie, knock it, or the very least crop it by 4 floors.The unit sizes on O’ Connell St are generally too small to accomodate large stores, which could of course be adressed by the amalgamation of properties, which take time to aquire.
Have you ever been inside the new schuh store, it’s the smallest shop in the world!
Burger King has a wonderful premises for a quality store with that fantastic picture window upstairs providing wonderful views of the Street.Is that what they are?!
I’ve wondered and pondered over those yokes on the Custom House for years and never coped on.
Brilliant!Surely a direct link to the Docklands, ie, Connolly, is necessary.
This is the city’s saviour in terms of development land and concentrating population. The future of the city and indeed surrounding counties is being placed in this area to counteract sprawl and soaring land values.
The investment and planning that is being injected into this place is surely a measure of its importance and hence its need for a Connolly stopoff.
Its likely that we’ll be kicking ourselves in 10 years if we don’t act now.I was thinking of that only the other day, having an illumination on one of the longest days of the year!
Now if it had been completed in December – in the middle of the Christmas rush, & illuminated at 5.00pm to thousands of adoring worshippers…
Whatever about the blandness of Eircom on the Green (Ardilaun Centre) it does complement the streetscape very well. Its lack of silly brick embellishments as seen on other similar late 80s/90s buildings also makes it more streamlined than most.
Look how wonderful Eastern European capitals are, like Talun in Estonia etc, with their fairytale-like skylines, pierced only by spires, steeples & domes.
In my opinion Dublin should stay low-rise except for way way away in the docklands.
The perfect opportunity to restore the skyline of the city centre to down low by the demolition of Hawkins House was unfortuately lost by tthe Dept of Healths insistance of mere refurbishment of the building.Urban sprawl is always spouted as a reason for high rise in all of Dublin city, this is just silly, the docklands is more than capable of dealing with the increased demand for housing by going upwards.
Indeed the docklands needs high rise in order to counter-balance the width of the Liffey in this area.
Now that everyones let of steam, back to O’ Cll St.
I used not to be remotely concerned about being on the st, but now I am always nervous on it, and during the day.
And everyone I know says the same, ‘just don’t make eye contact with anyone’ ‘steer well clear of any scangers or shady people etc’.
Is’nt it just terrible, so sad, that you feel concerned for your safety during the day & that you avoid eye contact with people.
I never walk down the st without seeing anti-social behavior, people yelling across the st at each other, girls with buggys ramming them into the backs of pedestrians infront, people sitting on the ground outside of Mc Donalds with piles of crap beside them, people littering, people coming up to you asking for food, money, the coat on your back etc.
Its really not worth going onto the st at all.
This must change, but how?
Any change that occurs only happens as part of ‘national strategies’ rather than plans tailored to suit excusively the needs of O’ Cll St, eg are more Gaurds to be deployed as part of the IAP? No, indeed any mention of guards on the st at all is non-existant, and so we have to wait 4 years for the ‘extra 2000 guards’ Bertie keeps promising.A FULLY integrated plan of the st is necessary, and indeed for the city centre as a whole.
There is never ANY radical thinking in this country, a Grand Master Plan for all of Dublin City Centre should be drawn up, dealing with every concievable aspect of the place.
Whereas the IAP is very comprehensive, it is very vague in some of the most important areas such as security.
To be frank, you can change the buildings and paving but you can’t change the people.
I know it’s terrible to stereotype, but its so true, its on the tip of every CC offical’s tongue but they just can’t say it.
Its a genuine concern that the upgraded elements of the st are just going to be trashed with chewing gum, late night brawls, urine, urine, urine etc
The thing that I hate about tall buildings in Dublin, or proposed buildings, is that there is no overall plan to accomodate them in the city.
The solution most people would agree with & would want to see is for the existing city centre to remain at 5/6 storeys but for the Docklands to reach fror the skies, hence having a dictinctive city skyline of extremes, with the ‘old’ being protected.
But this is’nt happening, and there are tallish, smallish 7/8/9/10 storey structures going up & being proposed, that are just bland, & in terms of height, contribute nothing to the city but vagueness and a lack of coherence.
‘That roof’ presumably referring to the train station, in which case WOW!
Was’nt it exquisite, and for once it wasnt crudly utilitarian with great beams visible etc, it was delicate & light and spectacular at night.
Its one of the most beautiful modern structures I’ve ever seen.
It’s interesting how not a million miles away it is from a lot of our Victorian roofs at stations, elegantly perched atop columns which flow into each other via curved brackets.
(Admittedly I was half unconcious towards the end as well)
Although the ‘fact’ of it being the tallest in the world at the time of it’s construction I belive is correct, it was to be taller only for a lack of funds.
I read it in a comparitively credible book, I’ll mention no names, evidently not reliable enough.
I havn’t seen Wellington since I was about 6! Its always facinated me, esp the large plaques/panels on the base, I really should go & see it again.
