john white
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Further to that
Why, if Ireland is doing so well and we all have such great $%*£ing jobs and the Celtic Tiger blah..blah.. crap, IS IT THAT:
We have the second highest level of poverty in Europe?
Well, it’s all a case of most of the cash going to the few isn’t it?
Unfortunately they seem to be largely an uncultured and concienceless shower and will do with this country what they see fit.
That’s the end of my Daily rant.
John
Oh God – that sounds awful.
I reckon either some twee Celtic Cross thing or that conservative Classical Pillar in a fish – tank design will probably be the final piece.
Fish tank … Hey, come to think of it – why not get Damien Hirst to do it?
He could saw a town planner in half and preserve him in poitin!
Yes, even though I think the monument is probably a terrible waste of money – a kick in the teeth to the people living nearby that eally need it – it would look impressive. For that reason I think it’s a shame to lose it. Really though, I reckon it’s not a luxury we can afford yet. There are too many other projects to deal with – as highlighted on this forum. Such as the fact that Dublin is a messy and architecturally impoverished city. We have to clean it up stylistically etc.
Paris was already amazing before the Eiffel Tower went up [thank God they kept it..]- Dublin is a KIP. Sorry, but it is.
Let’s sort out what we have first yes?
Otherwise we’re just wallpapering over the cracks with expensive showy monuments.
Someday I hope the spire is built.
By the way – I wondered: because of it’s sheer height, wouldn’t it just look like a massive cylindrical flag-pole from the ground? The taper merely mistaken for an effect of perspective?
Any comments on this?
John
McQuillan said that the developer has brought all commerce into disrepute. Well, actually they probably think he’s great. That’s the kind of pro-active ruthlessness this country needs – it precisely because of this calibre of businessman that we’re all enjoying this prosperity boom. Personal profit – that’s the goal, sweep aside all obstacles to it.
His one sin is probably his weakness – in giving in to pressure.
Although, that remains to be seen doesn’t it.
A mega billion company is looking for a new chairman. There are two identically qualified applicants.
Do they pick the one who trades arms or the one who saves dolphins?
It won’t be the same building will it?
Never mind what the quality will be like.
Presumably it’ll be totally half assed.No, something else stinks here.
Is this what’s happened?
Corpo: We’re going to fine you/possibly imprison you AND you have to re-build it.He/solicitor(s): No. I’ll do one or the other and that’s it.
Corpo: So sorry sir. Anything that you can do will be greatly appreciated. We realise that you’re a very busy man what with fingers in many, many pies. Yes, if you could re-build it that would be lovely. Thanks ever so much. So sorry for inconveniencing you.
Him: Right, well I’ll let it go this time but don’t let it happen again.
Sorry Shane.
I’m not well up on the current current architectural comedies being played out daily. I never could have made a connection there unless I was on drugs or something.
I wonder what Piazza Navona looked like up until the 15th century? It was probably a muddy field full of rubbish surrounded by crumbling antique ruins.
Rome was a very unpleasant place back then.
J
Hmmm… why is it set back further from the street?
Do you think it was so that CIE, when they converted temple bar to a bus depot could demolish everything else and widen the roads through it?
Not that there are many amazing structures on that street though.
J
Actually, I reckon that simple looking curved red brick extension to the College of Dentistry is very effective. It may not be very exciting but I think it works really well with the older part next door. The lines continue round from one to the other so well in fact that you’d hardly notce it was there.
Now you could argue that it’s a conservative waste of time putting up something as bland as this but on the contrary – it’s fitted in respectfully with an important already existing institution without resorting to Noddy-town PVC and aluminiun pastiche twee-ness.
Added to this it’s actually got some nice features externally:
It’s simplicity is refreshing and well utilsed and the glass-brick tower is rather nice and interesting.In my opinion.
Another example that works well is the recent extention to the Old Renaissance Venetian-Style Court House in Dun Laoghaire opposite the DART Station.
The windows and Cornice lines extend right through from old to new. I think it works very well – one complimenting the other.
In my opinion.
As I said in an earlier post in relation to the Corpulent, Flabby, Leaden Ulster Bank Building on the Quay beside Tara St. Station I actually rather like elements of O’Connell Bridge House. The main problem seems to be in the facade facing the Bridge because of it’s cheap and boring looking windows.
Other than that I find it [especially from a distance – yes… ha ha..] quite graceful, suggesting upward and especially horizontal movement – rather like a great ship.
Some of you will probably say “Yeah, it should horizontally move itself a couple of miles east and not stop ’til it’s in a thousand feet of water”. But compared at least, to most of the other buildings mentioned so far in this thread it’s a flaming masterpiece.
I still say Hawkins House is the winner for displaying it’s horrendousness in such an obnoxiously large and imposing fashion.
Closely followed by a slew of other pathetic red-brick lego buildings.
J
Hi Arthur
Well, the Corporation offices are the most commented on modern buildings in Dublin and have probably caused the most disgust.
The main point is “how do they get away with it?”
Refer to the Archer’s Garage posting on this forum. It’s exasperating. I suppose on this – polling day you might ask – which representative is going to tackle this?
Jim Mitchel apparently is interested in re-building and extending roads etc. Is that going to affect things? Does that indicate a particular attitude to the environment etc…?
For better or worse.
As I’ve pointed out before – County PLanners are infallible. Their decision is final. What are the TD’s and councillor’s going to do about that?
J
Thanks for the mail – you know who you are.
As for what can be done:
I wondered could we put on a march? I could talk to some friends [editors] in the Press.
Then my girlfriend Gabrielle who first yelled in shock at the demolition on Sunday morning the 6-June-1999 when we were in the car – she suggested Marion Finucane. Apart from having the ears of half the country daily [is the radio show still going?] she was according to Gabby quite a rebel in the ’60’s. She was involved in a student sit-in at a Grade 1 listed building. Was it Sam Stephenson she was resisting? Hang on – she isn’t a qualified architect by any chance is she?Anyway, let me know what you all think.
Perhaps Archeire’s spokesman could phone her show today?
John
How often have companies been forced to re-build/restore buildings that they have illegally demolished?
Is it illegal to demolish a Listed building?
I presume listing can be overturned by the county planner or whoever. Who’s he?
Why would this be authorised? To serve the public with a widened road? Or to satisfy the needs of some greedy developer. Why would a developer’s private business interests EVER come before preservation of a listed building? Does he have a pal in the Dail or An Bord Plannala?Surely something can be done.
Oh for $%*@’s sake! B&^()£ks!!
S*^T! B^&%$£()rds!!I’m sick to death of this F^%&$*()KING S*&T!
Is there NAYTTHING we CAN do collectively.
This HAS got to stop. This country is so F$%^&*KING corrupt. You can get away with anything if you’re in with the right crowd.Pardon my F&^%*(NG french.
John
Yes, paul’s correct – it is the Burton building. The outside is gorgeous – I’ve always loved it. The green ceramic material is so lovely. I wonder what it was is/like inside?
John
Thanks for the input chaps. I’ll have a look at those other buildings. If I ever get a chance I’ll put an Irish Art Deco site together.
John
Drool over some beautiful old archtop guitars…Yes, I’ve often wondered about that.
Hawkins House for example – should it be demolished? Even if in time [100 years or so – if it lasts that long] we don’t realise our ignorance and recognise what a daring and supreme work of art it was? [Unlikely – but who can tell…] Perhaps it will stand as a glaring example of cheap 60/70’s architecture
and we’l be lucky to have it. Even just for nostalgia value.I mean, think of all the Roman buildings and Byzanitine churches in Rome that ‘Il Ruinante’ [Bramante] pulled down in the belief that his work was more worthy.
Granted, his Tempietto is lovely but what did he destroy to create it? Imagine if the Renaissance ideology had really seized Venice; the so-called Barbaric Byzantine Palaces may have been cleansed to make way for the ‘Correct’ Classical Style like Palladio’s Church on Saint Giorgio Maggiore.
We could have ended up in a Neo – Classical
world. Hitler would have loved that.Anyway… blah blah… wind bag I could go on.
Basically I agree that examples of ALL architecture should probably be preserved. It’s apity we can’t designate an out of the way site and move them all there – like a theme park.
Perhaps the question is:
If we’re to keep just ONE of each – what do we pick, the best or the worst?
Have a great week-end all
John White
The 16th Century Romans apparently said of Donato Bramante :
“Do you know he’s going to re-build Heaven? But with better access roads.”
