johnglas
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johnglas
ParticipantNo 67 looks as though the whole doorcase, door and surrounding wall had beeen coloured just to match the Christmas wreath – delightful!
More pics of Dundalk would be very welcome, Graham; we don’t get nearly enough showing buildings in their general context, which is how you actually see and experience them. The word is that Irish ‘provincial’ towns are dull, but I don’t think that’s at all true – all that’s needed is some design fascism (i.e. clear guidelines about what to do and what not to do), strong planning policies (not dictated by developers) and a GrahamH in every town to record the misdeeds! A Happy New Year!December 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm in reply to: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches #772318johnglas
ParticipantNo, but perhaps we could be revolutionary and let the clergy + people do it (cf. the C of I)! Rome could always ‘haud the jaikets’ as we say here (trans. ‘be the arbitrator’).
johnglas
ParticipantSo, the developer ignores the planning permission, nobody else has any right to ‘dictate’ and it can all be ‘settled’ by allowing expensive lawyers to rip everyone off – what kind of nightmare scenario is that?
Any views of the resulting monstrosity? To demolish a perfectly decent house of character on a whim and replace it with… anything, just about, hardly seems justified. The architects must have known what was afoot and they are criminally complicit.December 22, 2008 at 8:00 pm in reply to: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches #772314johnglas
ParticipantI’m no defender of the child (sexual) abusers, but not only are the persons mentioned different in degree, they are utterly different in kind as well. It’s as well to separate the two issues in our mind completely – except in that both are misuses of power and control and are utterly insensitive to the concerns and feelings of others.
However, an abuser could be a sensitive aesthete, and vice-versa; there’s simply no connection. Just keep getting the boot into the Bishop of Cloyne for his mishandling of the conservation and restoration of one of Ireland’s most impressive buildings. Unlike the Bishop of Cloyne for the time being, the cathedral will endure, even in a diminished state.johnglas
ParticipantThey’re both just over-egged exercises in eg(g)o-massaging; if you think the architecture’s crap, just give it a little twist, or dramatic lighting. Whatever happened to classic skyscraper design? Or is Bono seeing it all through rose-tinted glasses? (Ouch!)
Y’all have a nice Christmas!johnglas
ParticipantDidn’t the last protest result in Canary Dwarf? How can you ‘protest’ against high-rise (and I’m not even a fan)?
johnglas
ParticipantThe theatre looks confusing…….!!!!
And how! But it’s somehow appropriate in this zany square, which is a sensory overload. Having said all that, when I was there on 30 Nov (a sunny, freezing day) it all looked magnificent and gave the lie to the idea of the ‘dull’ Docklands. The view from Crazy Square (or Mxyzptlk Plaza) is dominated by the water (as it should be) and the little Schwarz jetty makes you feel really in contact with the basin (of course, I wanted to straighten all the lightposts and although I’m not a fan of DL, if you half-shut your eyes…). The views are big, the architecture is interesting (with the reflecting office block across from the hotel the clear winner on a sunny day) and it’s starting to come to life. It’s connected to Pearse St and from there to Ringsend and the city: coffee on the corner, pricey organic stuff at the St Andrew’s RC, a view (but NO ENTRY!) of Pearse Sq – a real tranquil oasis – and the feel of an area in progress.
The Downturn will give it all a chance to settle down; the next phase? Demolition and redevelopment of that ugly shed at the NE corner of P Sq, relocation of the An Post yard (how they must be kicking themselves they didn’t dump it in the boom!), a ‘mews terrace’ along Macken St behind PSq (and the new bridge), more social and affordable hsg with lower property values, etc. And Goodbye to Bono.
Me, I think the South Docklands is great and people are failing to see the wood for the trees. The foundations have been laid, there’s plenty of time to humanise it and get the rest of it ‘right’.johnglas
ParticipantGregF: you really are a head job!
johnglas
ParticipantGregF: sympathetic to some of what you say, but there’s no need to hate yourself, fellow professionals, your city and your country in general quite so much! With friends like you, who needs enemies?
johnglas
Participantihateawake: did I miss something? I haven’t breathed a word about this monumental piece of *$&6e recently!
johnglas
ParticipantGraham: point very well taken, although I undrstand that works for the tram/metro might involve the dismantling of the Spire and the Monument (a bit drastic, to put it mildly), giving the opportunity for another think. But all far too speculative at this stage.
johnglas
ParticipantGrahamH: stunning and sterling work (both yours and it); surely a template for the planners and the rest of the street.
Not wishing to be controversial…but, wouldn’t the O’Connel Monument have made a splendid focus to O’C St had it been moved to where the Spire now is (possibly on a raised plinth)? So, toponomy and topography would have coincided neatly and the street would have a literal and symbolic focus instantly understandable at the principal crossing of the street (and I quite like the Spire, but it’s hopelessly pointless (no pun intended) when seen from almost anywhere near it because of the extreme height in relation to the street).
johnglas
Participantnotjim: Was that heavy, heavy irony?
November 7, 2008 at 11:17 am in reply to: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches #772162johnglas
ParticipantPrax: Interesting you mention the old high altar at Cork cathedral; I couldn’t believe this had been discarded in favour of the ‘conservatory’ arrangement in the present sanctuary (complete with potted plants!). However, it’s still there and will eventually be restored to provide a proper and fitting focus. (There is much to commend otherwise in this bright and airy interior, apart from the sanctuary and the awful Sacrament chapel – just what should be the focus of what the whole building is about!)
As you know, I have a bit of horror at ‘repository art’ statuary, especially if plonked randomly round the church, but the apse at Oxford perfectly illustrates a comprehensive and well-ordered arrangement of statuary as an integral part of the architectural and decorative scheme of the building.johnglas
Participantkinsella: agreed; how about dark green as a compromise?
johnglas
Participant:cool:Thanks, but I’ve lost the will to live…
johnglas
ParticipantEconomics pwnzs and cetera
Ihateawake: Did you actually fall asleep with your hands over the keys at that point?
johnglas
Participantgunter: johnglas is the epitome of restraint.
October 25, 2008 at 12:24 pm in reply to: reorganisation and destruction of irish catholic churches #772116johnglas
ParticipantPrax: Many thanks for that – until there is an appreciation that modernism is now but one style among many, we will never ‘invent’ a new traditional architecture,especially for churches. I would have thought that, in Ireland, a reinstatement (and restatement) of the Hiberno-Romanesque would provide an aesthetically simplistic yet elegant and numinous model.
johnglas
ParticipantNo, it was all carefully hand-crafted and shaped concrete and wood; that’s why it cost 450 zillion quid. And it still looks like a dog’s dinner. Swop?
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