J. Seerski
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I thought this facade was really ugly, monotonous and not untypical of any other bland blocks. This area of town really suffers from spectacular banality in parts (Ulster Bank, Kilkenny House, Norwich House, Castle House, Blarney House…..Zzzzzz – such crap
I am sorry but the interconnector is not a good idea – what about a line circling the city under the two canals and one under the liffey – these would minimise disruption and also enable public transport be close to the larger concentrations of population.
And what of poor Broadstone? This could easily be part of any new solution to the Airport’s lack of a fixed line system…and maybe even extending it to forlorn Navan…
As much as I despise of the Luas as being a deformed transport system, I felt a little happy boarding it yesterday – the best part is the fact that it makes travelling from Connolly to Heuston faster and a little more pleasurable the rest of the line – and that of the sandyford line – can go to hell!!!
Idea – Remove all railings outside the Bank of Ireland and made it more part of the city – the same could be done with the Rotunda – a plaza making a splendid reposte in an otherwise barren part of town
Idea – Remove Adverts and paint white – the Railway Bridge in Athlone is really nice as white – Loopline would look much better and unobtrusive.
Clerys Door signs/plaques have gone missing – should I presume that they are gone for cleaning/refurbishment? They are wonderful works of art and shop design – Much more integral in the entire store design.
Surely these signs were/are protected?!
I have to ask who runs Platform 11? Who is behind it? This is the same crowd that is against the Western Rail Corridor as it would be ‘unviable’ – a bit of an odd remark considering that rail/public transport by its nature is usually unprofitble. The problem about public transport in Ireland is its lack of integration – no more highlighted than the fact that almost all journeys between cities are via Dublin or ridiculously close to dublin.
The Luas is another disaster. Fine they look nice and shiny, but they are a failure. If there was just one line it could be excused, but having two lines that are disjointed is absurd. Furthermore, those lines being biased towards the southside smacks of pure prejudice or downright ignorance of dublins traffic crisis. Why on earth are traffic problems northbound not as urgent as those on the southside.The interconnector is a good idea but it appears again to be biased in favour of southside commercial interests. Lets have proper balance in the development of Dublin’s public transport, regarding all commercial and public interests.
well sorry to dissapoint everyone but is it not clear that the stretch from Abbey Street to O’Connell Bridge will NOT have widened footpaths?! They are laying new granite at junctions with abbey street – it is clear from this that the narrow paths will remain.
I have to be honest and now say the redevelopment of o’connell st is not wonderful – it is rather just about catching up with other streets in terms of design. Its an ok job- not a world beater. One way they could improve the street would be through the lighting up of all statues at night-time. Especially the O’Connell Monument – a magnificent monument in its own right.
As for the Savoy redeveloment, the inside is ok, but the plates of tin behind the new sign are rather shabby and crude (screws sticking out of plates, some plates are even crooked!) The Corpo (sorry, city council) should not allow such crap. Obviously the controls on O’Connell Street are either ineffective or unenforced…Then there’s Dr Quirkey’s… 🙁
Finally, one more rant (!) The collumns on the Eden Quay side of the Irish Nationwide Building are falling apart at ground level!! Some of the brass bases on the ground floor elevation are missing and some pillasters are collapsing!!! COUNCIL INTERVENE FOR GOD SAKE!!!
I have to say its a good omen to see that the tree that was dying on O’Connell Street was replaced promptly. Some of the other non-sculptured trees have died quite quickly and have been since removed – Possibly these trees couldn’t survive on the street.
Saw the Luas cut the street today for first time – nice addition.
If it could only get worse….
Graham said it looked deceptively nice from a distance, but Dr Quirkeys are even making this possibilty end with the application of ‘gold leaf’ paint on some of the hideous cheap pillasters outside.
What the hell is going on with the Savoy? They have moved the ticket office to the left but have left the awful shutters and poor quality windows on the facade. This was a good example of what was wrong with O’Connell St. design and yet it is being kept on by the cinema? They have done an impressive job inside but that shopfront to its left is an eyesore. And don’t mention the main Savoy cinema sign….
But Things are changing on O’Connell St. If the Abbey moved to the Carlton it would do untold wonders to this end which is akin to a wasteland in parts…
🙁
Er, has anyone seen the new Dr Quirkey’s shopfront unveiled today? – its, er, dreadful. Looks like one of those corpo houses that has been ‘beautified’ with grecian pilarra and some ‘fancy’ railings…
Did this get planning permission – I don’t recall…
The old shopfront was bad – but not as vile as this rubbish….
See the Savoy are doing their bit -AT LAST – the foyer looks impressive enough – all they need now is to rid the building to its left of that bits and pieces shopfront….
Its a major improvement, thankfully.
Here, I heard a proposal also that the GPO is to be sublet to shops as An Post view it as a major underuse of existing space – don’t know whether this will work. perhaps where the phone booths and the stampshops are could be better used. Even a stylish restaraunt, perhaps?
:confused:
Well I’m sorry but that big heap was well shot down by an bord pleanala. It was a stump of glass that was highly illogical in form – and all that guff about ‘sharp contrasts’ to neighbouring buildings – sure the cooling towers at Sellafield would be sharply contrasting – bet you wouldn’t foist that there!
In total, the design was demented and incoherent. Best refused! It would have made a joke of Sth King St – would have resembled a bland street in a forgotten city in northern Britain (there are so many)…..
🙂 🙂 🙂 Three cheers to An Taisce!
Enough! Live and let live and less smug attitudes about our culture. Live and let live – and that goes for our architectural past.
W.B. Yeats, hating the Pillar, said of the removal debate (in the 1930s – 30 years before its destruction!!!) ‘I think we should accept it as part of our tradition – and not pick and choose – though it is not a beautiful object’.
This logic was eminently reasonable and should be employed by those who want to ‘pick and choose’ the past.
I think the Sacred Heart statue is mediocre – but leave it be. Pick this out then why not the Papal Cross, the Wellington Monument, the old Parliament House sculptures…the list would go on and on…:o
Maybe its just a guess, but those new ‘massive’ lights on the plaza maybe adjustable via remote control??
Also, I noted from the list of protected structures from DCC that ALL of the bollards in front of the GPO were protected – alas only two were re-installed. Who was responsible for this???!!!!
Otherwise the whole project seems o be coming together – in part at least. Then we have mayday to look forward to and it will be all wrecked…. Any bets on all those trees being intact on Tuesday next???!!!
From BBC News…..
Fewer passengers use Sheffield’s Supertrams than expected
Plans for more light rail systems in UK towns could be at risk because existing ones are failing to attract passengers and investment, a report has warned.
The National Audit Office (NAO) said some systems were losing money, did little to cut traffic and did not link to other transport modes.It said the losses discouraged private firms from investing in new systems.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling said he would look at other options if trams did not provide value for money.
Major barriers
Seven light rail – or tram – systems have been built since 1980 and another 12 are being developed, with £1bn of government investment.
However, major barriers were preventing further expansion, the government spending watchdog warned.
The NAO report cited the example of the Sheffield Supertram – in operation since 1994 – which was expected to raise £80m on privatisation, but in fact attracted only £1m.
If costs are going to carry on doubling then any government is quite right to say ‘well, let’s have a look at it and let’s see if there aren’t other alternatives’
Alistair Darling
Passenger numbers were 45% below expectation on the South Yorkshire line, while numbers on the Midland Metro were 38% down, the NAO said.
The Midland Metro, Manchester Metrolink, Croydon Tramlink and Tyne and Wear Metro were all running at a loss, with Midland Metro losing £11.4m a year.
Sir John Bourn, head of the NAO, said: “Systems need to be better integrated with other modes of transport to attract more passengers and help to reduce urban congestion.
“If more systems are to secure private sector investment, construction costs must be brought down and placed on a sound financial footing.”
Costs
Mr Darling told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme tram usage had increased by 86% between 1997 and 2003, but that the government was taking a tough line on future funding.
“One of my big concerns is that the costs of these new schemes have doubled in some cases,” Mr Darling said.
“If costs are going to carry on doubling then any government is quite right to say ‘well, let’s have a look at it and let’s see if there aren’t other alternatives’.
“If we are going to build these things then we have to make sure that we get value for money from them.”
‘Hands off’
Commons public accounts committee chairman and Conservative MP Edward Leigh said the government has not been active enough in implementing tram systems.
A new tram system for Liverpool is under discussion
“The Department of Transport has taken a hands-off approach compared to our continental competitors.
“The department has allowed tram systems to be built that have no through ticketing arrangements, unco-ordinated timetables, and trams have not been given priority over road traffic,” he said.
Conservative transport spokesman Damian Green said: “The Department for Transport has talked about 25 new light rail lines but the report makes it clear that it has no strategy for achieving this growth.”
But a spokesman for the Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) group said the NAO report had shown how light rail “can be delivered faster, better, cheaper”.
Put that in yer pipe and smoke it!!!!
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:Massive new light fittings are being placed at four corners of the new plaza – I await with interest….
Just wondering whether it took ten years to replace bridge, following extensive public consultation, planning appeals, construction delays, overrun budgets….nah didn’t think so…it wasn’t the luas…;)
Just admiring O’Connell Street from the Carlton Cinema today… however…
The sweep from Earl Street to O’Connell Street is quite possibly the finest stretch of streetscape in Dublin, but it is so shamefully destroyed by O’Connell Bridge House. This has to not only be one of the worst buildings in Dublin, but also the most ill- situated. It ruins this spectacular ensemble of architecture – akin to placing a block of flats in the middle of Westminster Palace in London.
There were plans for some modification of this vile piece of work, but nothing less than total demolition and a new building restricted to four storeys would be the best result here.
On other matters, one of the unintended effects of the new trees surrounding the GPO is that they obscure much of the horrendous shop signage adjacent Clerys. Perhaps this practice should continue where shops deliberately ignore planning restrictions regarding signage. 😀
