kefu
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Am doing an article for this week’s Tribune about Smithfield: its success or failures. If anybody has any thoughts in particular they want aired, you can pm me or post here.
Good view here of what GrahamH is talking about:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=swpkxhggcc8t&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=29507846&encType=148 metres high. A bit higher than the conference centre, I would think.
Certainly, it would appear to be a far more impressive structure than the James Joyce bridge, which continues to suffer from lack of maintenance and a sense of being overblown for the job it has to do.The fair is on first Sunday of every month.
Not going to get into an argument on the pros and cons of it. However, it should be noted that almost every pub in Smithfield and Stoneybatter area feels the need to shut their doors and only allow regulars in that day.What a magnificent picture that last one is: John McCormack looking off towards one of those perfect spring afternoons in Dublin.
They’re not going to be able to rent these shop spaces because if there isn’t critical mass to support a pub/Spar, what chance does any other business have? Simple solution for me is to rent them out as artist’s studios, until things pick up.
The elements that have to be preserved are quite obvious now when you drive past. However, absolutely nothing has been done with them and you would wonder whether the plan for this site involves developing the empty half and leaving the other [more expensive] portion until economic conditions improve. Paul’s pictures sum it up perfectly: a mixed bag, not terrible but not inspiring either.
Two different sites: no railway buildings in the Grangegorman site, that would be Broadstone where there is currently a bus garage.
Have to say I seriously doubt this will go ahead now. I think a lot of it was predicated on the DIT being able to sell all the various city center campuses at the height of the boom. Some of those sites, Kevin Street, Aungier Street, Bolton Street etc would not be a particularly attractive proposition now.
Would be suicidal and very damaging for the local areas if those buildings were to be left vacant for a few years, waiting for property prices to recover.Is the first one the Greek Orthodox church [apologies if I’ve wrong religion] up at Arbour Hill?
The second one looks a bit like the gatekeeper’s cottage at White’s Gate near Farmleigh.I specifically didn’t mention the Clarence and won’t dignify the cable car comment.
I must say I admire your overweening sense that whatever you happen to think must be correct, that just because you have an opinion, it is therefore fact.Firstly, I don’t know who you’re referring to when you use this “better than what’s there” argument.
The majority of what has been built along the North Docks has been of indifferent quality, the NCC is a vastly different proposition.
I’m not defending it on the basis of it being better than what’s there, I’m defending it on the basis that I think it’s a mangificent concept. It’s too early to judge the final execution as the building is not finished yet. (Should we judge the new criminal court complex on the basis of its current exterior too?)
Both of these projects – the criminal courts and the NCC – are designed to drag the city back to its locus along the river. Along those quays, we will have Heuston Station, the new courts complex, Guinness, Collins Barracks, the Four Courts, Civic Offices, the Custom House and as a new bookend, the conference centre.
That is what the NCC is attempting to achieve and will to me eyes – at least – be successful in doing so.It’s a magnificent modern reinterpretation of the Four Courts and was always intended as so. How anybody can suggest this is the ugliest building in Dublin simply beggars belief.
I’ve no idea what the finished product will be like but certainly the NCC will be the Central Bank of this era, a genuinely interesting building, one of the best built in the boom years.An Post have a very big surface car park there on Macken Street. There must have been serious temptation to dispose of some of that land.
Was parking in Trinity Street yesterday and rather curiously there was a member of staff doing a survey of all customers asking them from what direction they were coming.
It would suggest to me that the multi-storey car parks are trying to determine where there business is coming from in the event of pedestrianisation.
There are quite a few such facilities, which would be affected although I can’t see any of them going out of business: Fleet Street, Trinity Street, Brown Thomas, Drury Street etc.This seems like a great design. Even though it’s ten storeys – it’s in a hollow so nowhere near as intrusive as it might be. This could lead to a genuine regeneration of lovely Parkgate Street, which has – as we’ve seen – become quite rundown.
In fairness, if ever there was a spot for an iconic modern bridge, this was it. Subtlety is not exactly required to protect the wonderful existing vistas.
