HK

I say let him put up what he wants. But then I won’t be deciding – and that’s part of the problem. Who am I? I am a member of the public. And why won’t I be deciding? Because I don’t know what architecture in Ireland is beyond what the Times and the Independent publish and the RTE broadcasts (and currently, I am not interested).

Whatever he puts up it could spark a much needed public debate that may penetrate through the relatively small elite of Irish architectural critics to the “people of Dublin” though publicity. The question at this stage is not whether the project will be contextual or not. The Dun Loughaire-Rathdown CC will do their work and so will the immediate residents as is their responsibility (and the even architects will have their say). The question is what will the nature of the debate be? will it last long enough to spark wider public interest? Or will it be another Eircom Park political debacle? (the only current language of public architectural debate)? And how many people in Ireland will know and perhaps even have an opinion of what architecture may do (or not do) for them. This must grow people’s architecture minds (or give birth to one). Perhaps I’m making more of this than is warranted, but you did say Libeskind, didn’t you?