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Enclosed internal green and play spaces are a far more appropriate solution for housing complexes of this type, particulary in Dublin.
If the residents choose to make shite of them, then at least everybody else in the city doesn’t have to look at them.
As you said, Bridgefoot Street is the best example of that.
Its ‘front garden’ is potentially the complex’s most impressive feature yet it ends up looking like no-man’s land, except more dangerous.There’s something faintly ridiculous (but probably pre-planned) about the fact that the Southern end of the motorway, which runs through what was always the more expensive real estate in Dublin, is built last, at a time when property prices are at their maximum.
At the same time, there seems to be no such rush to build a rail link (on what should be cheaper land) on the Northside to complement the two Luas lines that serve the southside and a tiny fragment of the north inner city.The Irish Times has been raving about this for about two years. Some of the ideas about cutting out traffic and getting rid of clutter are good ideas. I’d prefer to see a more close-in photo than the one included so far before making a final judgement. No offence to your picture-taking Paul – do you have any more detailed.
Plan for revamp of Cork city gets go-ahead
By Olivia Kelleher. May 28, 2002.Major refurbishment plans for Cork city centre are closer to implementation after a contract was signed between contractors McGinty and O’Shea Ltd and the city council.
In an ambitious city council plan for the city centre, areas such as Patrick’s Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, the Huguenot Quarter and the Grand Parade will be significantly improved.
Patrick’s Street will be the first area to be transformed at a cost of approximately €10 million with work due to start at the end of this month.
The new design will significantly reduce the space given to traffic on Patrick’s Street with over half of the area from Merchant’s Quay to Daunt Square being set aside for pedestrians.
The new project will look at shop signs and clear away the clutter that has accumulated over the last few years.
This along with other measures, such as tactile paving means the street will be far more user friendly for the disabled and visually impaired.
The Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor Tom O’Driscoll, said the project will enable Cork to maintain its position as a premier business and shopping area.
“The renewal project which will carry through to other areas such as Oliver Plunkett Street and the Huguenot Quarter over time has huge symbolic as well as aesthetic importance,” Mr O’Driscoll said.
The contract marks the start of preparations for 2005 when Cork will be European City of Culture.
Cork City Council executives will meet with traders in the near future to outline the programme and method of work.
City manager, Mr Joe Gavin, said the redesign of Patrick’s street by renowned Spanish architect, Ms Beth Gali will reflect the pride and spirit of Cork.
Ms Gali is known for her imaginative design of public spaces and buildings in Barcelona.
She began her architectural career working for Barcelona City Council’s “Urban Projects Workshop”.
The architect is currently working on a number of projects including a shopping centre in Salamanca and an audiovisual campus and bathing area for Forum 2004 in Barcelona.
Found first piece of tatty merchandise to take advantage of our Sword of Light
I don’t think this permission will be granted after all the effort involved in getting the building reinstated. I was never a great fan of Archer’s Garage but I think the central pillar is probably its only defining feature. The whole purpose of the exercise would be defeated is this were granted.
It’s coming from a piece in the Irish Mirror this morning, which says:
City Architect Jim Barrett says finding the right name is a ‘difficult task’.
‘It is important to come up with something that suits everyone, that’s what makes it hard.
‘We aren’t really considering anything new. All ten of our suggestions are sure to be have been heard by the public already.
‘They all revolve around honouring people from history or focusing on the light emitting powers of the structure.
‘We can’t say which is the favourite because we are still in discussions.’Barrett also said derogatory names would obviously not get a look in.
He said: ‘The ones we hear every day like the Pole in the Hole have not been put forward in an official capacity.
‘This is a monument for everyone to be proud of and we are taking the issue of naming it very seriously.
‘Some people are quite annoyed that such a prestigious project is being given mock names.
‘The committee is due to meet again next week and we hope to have more or less come to a decision by then.
‘We will be having an official unveiling ceremony in a few weeks but we are waiting for the area around it to be tidied up first.
‘The light fitting is now being tested in the UK and when it is ready and the building rubble is gone, we will be ready for the grand opening.’Ian Ritchie still feels the Monument of Light is the appropriate name. I agree and can’t understand why it would be changed now. Also, I think the reality is that it will forever be known as the Spike and I don’t think any naming ceremony will change that.
Parliament Street is easy to cross. The traffic lights from all sides favour pedestrians in the main and the amount of cars on it is quite small.
I don’t think traffic is the problem with Temple Bar’s West End. I think it was completed far too late, by which time the edge of TB was defined by Parliament Street.
If for example, there had been one popular pub or a couple of popular restaurant on Cow’s Lane and associated streets from the early days (even if Blazers was still open) then that end would have been much busier all along.It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you greenarch. All I wanted to know was what perspective you were coming from.
Here’s the 1941 plan
http://indigo.ie/~kfinlay/New%20Dublin/section1.htmit’s on http://indigo.ie/~kfinlay/
This is the best dublin history site on the web by a long chalk. there are abercrombie threads going way back on archforums. no doubt paul will interlink us all again.
one of the interesting things is that the DubCityCounc plans regarding Smithfield, the Markets and so on are very much oriented towards moving the city westwards towards first the Four Courts and the Phoenix Park. Abercrombie still has a huge influence in Irish thought on urban planning.
The Davitt Road Bridge looks excellent. I have yet to see any part of the project, where corners appear to have been cut. Though the depot buildings aren’t great.
It’s funny about the DART – it was considered futuristic in its time, with its uniform colouring and signage. Considering its usage and all the wealthy parts of Dublin it passes through, it really is in a state now.Why should we trust you Greenarch? Just curious to know what experiences you’ve had on this – I don’t doubt that what you say is true.
Also, Paul, higher up on this thread, which is many moons ago, you said you were going to put together a package of photos of Smithfield to show the bad workmanship.
Did you ever do that? Will be down there tonight and have seen small problems myself before. Just wondering what you think the worst elements of it are.
I think the reason, however, that people hug the outskirts rather than walk across Smithfield is because it is incomplete on the West Side. I find it hard to reach a final judgement on the plaza until the old Duffy’s scrapyard is actually completed. They seem to be working fast there BTW. A lot of foundation work already complete.And thus is laid to rest that last remaining reason to bitch about the Spire … its €5 million price tag.
The Irish Times estimates that millions more will be made from selling images and models of the Spire. I would cut and paste text in here but their site is very slow today.
Maybe the profits can be spent on the homeless or on hospital beds. Or better still, on more grand projects like the Spire.Blessington Basin in the North inner city and the linear park above it.
The walk from Phibsboro along the Royal Canal is nice especially if you went as far as the M50 aqueduct at Blanchardstown, but you won’t because it’s about a five-mile walk.
The suspension bridge in Dundrum is worth seeing as is the Herbert Park in Ballsbridge.
Both North and South Wall of Dublin Bay are lovely walks.
Hill of Howth is as nice if not nicer than the walk around Killiney Hill.
In one afternoon, you could go to the Museum of Modern Art in Kilmainham, the jail in Kilmainham and the absolutely beautiful War Memorial Gardens in Islandbridge.
Dublin Zoo and Botanic Gardens, even though they feature in every tourist guides, are both great.The review is pretty accurate apart from comments about Millennium Bridge and the outer suburbs.
Most people I know find the new bridge very attractive in style, although they’ve let it get very dirty.
There’s a lot more to Dublin than the city centre, not least Dalkey, Dun Laoghaire, Howth, Ranelagh, just to name the really really obvious places.
It’s only laziness and an unwillingess to get off one’s arse that could make one think otherwise.I don’t mean to be pedantic.
But I do think the Parisien aversion to high-rise is overstated.
Even within the Peripherique, there are buildings like Hotel Concorde-Lafayette, Hotel Meridien and entire Montparnasse train station complex.
Even Pantheon and Hotel des Invalide – at dome level – are taller than anything in Ireland, as is the Pompidou Centre.
Circling right around the Seine and the Peripherique, there are dozens of high-rise (by Irish standards) buildings.There are a lot more tall buildings in Paris than those two. La Grande Arche de la Défense is almost as tall as the Spire at 110 metres and its much smaller than most of the skyscrapers in that area.
i can’t see Dunloe – with Liam Carroll of all people now at the helm – giving too much of a f*** about Luas extensions
Carroll, who did of course run Zoe Developments, is hardly Ireland’s greatest proponent of sustainable development.Re vandalism, this is an extract from an interesting article at
http://www.nidi.org/index.cfm/ci_id/10810.htm
‘The bottom 12 metres of the spire will retain its mirrored finish but will be etched with an abstract design to improve resistance to dirt and graffiti.
Stainless steel was chosen for its corrosion resistance, structural behaviour and visual/sculptural qualities, adds Graham. The spire has been designed to last at least 130 years.’
Don’t know how effective it will be against the more determined.
