lexington
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‘If’ what?
Nobody seems to know the architect, but hey, like it or loathe it, it does demand attention.
Originally posted by bunch
lexington,what site on bachelor’s quay are you talking about, i can’t think of any site there available for development??
I’m not just saying this to be difficult, but I can’t actually specify the development, all I can say is think the western end of Bachelor’s Quay – and if any old buildings come to mind that look out of place and semi-derelict, you’re probably right.
–> with regards the Watergold Building, I think it’s description relating to the Addams Family House, is probably a good one, but it looks like it with post-modern style. I do like this building because it is reminiscent of some sort of semi-Gothic ye olde European design mixed with modernity. I think too often architects in their desire to capture the modern edge, only really capture the modern trend (eg. Spencer Dock, Dublin; Cork City Hall extension) but some of the nicest buildings around, and which stand the test of time are those older buildings with intricate designs within a design, a classic example is the Cura Building on Paul Street (next to the Paul Street Car Park). I like the idea of engaging the classic, elegant and eye-holding characteristics of old with the edgy, progressive and sleek designs of nowadays. I think the Watergold Building, in some misconstruded way, attempts to catch this.
Originally the building was designed at 7-storeys but I do know An BP in their report specified a ‘desirability’ to see a reduction of 1 floor to 6-storeys. However, as far as I know, the 21LQ pic incl’d the Irish Examiner building as a projection and comparison and incorporated an earlier design of the building than the one that then went for PP. So I’m not quite sure. If you look at the 21LQ pic, the design on the IE building is different to that of the O’Riordain Staehli pics.
I do know, however the revised IE design is now 6-storeys.
Any opinions on the other pics???
I’ll have more up soon.
It has been announced the the new Irish Examiner HQ site has been attained by an undisclosed bidder and that the building will be complete for early 2007.
No, there was only a green-field in place beforehand. The building is new, but I have to say I like the Mansard Roof and dormers. I have a great affiliation for post-modern style buildings – like the famous Humana Building in Louisville, Kentucky. I love the idea of blending old style with modern. Glass and stone pillars. If ya don’t like this, you’re gonna hate the project currently in pre-planning being proposed for Bachelor’s Quay in Cork.
But does anyone know who designed this building???
No.5 and No.6 Lapps Quay
Picture of City Quarter development (with No.6 Lapps Quay to the west)
Another pic of City Quarter from the east.
21 Lavitts Quay
New Irish Examiner HQ on Lavitts Quay (21 Lavitts Quay will be immediately to the left [or west] of the building)
2 smaller pics of alternate Irish Examiner HQ view (incl. aspect to Cork Opera House)
Anyone who’s followed my posts will know that I’m a strong advocate for the development of Cork city. I’m have strongly endorsed city projects such as Water Street, City Quarter, No.5 and No.6 Lapps and 21 Lavitt Quays, Paul Kenny’s South Main Street development, John Mannix’s Washington Street development and many more, both online and on the ground – however, I am deeply angered by the grant of permission to Grangefield Developments for the partial demolition of the Victoria-esque Arbutus Lodge Hotel in Montonotte, Cork and the construction of 2 apartment blocks ranging between 3, 5 and 6 storeys high.
I recognise many changes have been made by Grangefield in order to gain planning permission, but the project still remains grossly out of place, unsuited and downright ugly in what is predominantly a leafy, residential housing suburb overlooking the city centre from the northern slopes.
The project has little to no architectural merit (James Leahy & Assoc., Cork) and ruins what is an elegant former manor and hotel. The immediate access is poor and has traffic difficulties as it is. The immediate surrounding area is taken up by a pleasant leafy garden area and a number of unique one of houses overlooking the city. The construction of a 6 storey apartment block devastates resident privacy and brings to which has always traditionally been a nice owner-occupier housing area, the monstrosity of a development which will accomodate temporary residency in the majority – ruining the family centred quality of the area.
2 crimes are being commited here – the devastation of a classic architectural structure which has been adequately retained, and the imposition of an oversized apartment development in an area completely unsuited to such a project.
This is a further notch down for my believe in Cork’s planning authority. How is it that suited city centre projects such as Paul Kenny’s South Main Street office/retail/hotel project are refused (permission was only granted after appeal), and the partial demolition of a architecturally significant structure and erection of an apartment block in a leafy residential suburb gets the go ahead first round? It’s another example of an appalling planning system.
I am an advocate for such large scale development in Cork, but where it is right and suited. This sort of project should be forwarded in a city centre location such as the former Irish Internation Trading Co. premises between Angelsea Street and South City Link, or docklands, or city quay areas, not in a green suburban area.
This is a disheartening development, just when I thought they were copping themselves on.
I only hope Water Street, Mannix project, Eglinton Street, South Main Street and other such projects are given rightful permission. It will help redeem my faith in CCC, but it may be too late for the Arbutus. Hmmm.
Cleary Doyle Building and Civil Engineering Contractors have won the bid for contract of Cork City Council’s 32million euro extension of City Hall. The new building is designed by ABK Architects.
Cleary Doyle are responsible for the 12million Euro new Cork VEC and 35million Altana Pharma plant in Cork also.
Also CDA Assoc announced that O’Flynn Construction would begin starting construction of No.6 Lapps Quay as of this week.
Yeah I saw the Planning Report, ugh – it’s so frustrating. The Mannix Culhane building is designed by Coveney & Assoc of Monkstown, Cork and has been designed in-line with the general style of the Washington Street area (with apparently a ‘modern twist’ – make of that what you will!) 4 submissions have already been made against the project – plus Further Info has been requested by Cork City Council. Fingers crossed!
Also, Howard Holdings have made further steps on the Business Centre proposals adjacent to City Hall, while Cork City Council have made notices for their planned new Civic Building across the street, south of Angelesea Street Garda Station.
O’Flynn Construction are expected to make an announcement regarding their Eglinton Street site within the next few weeks.
(Come on Water Street!!!)
Cool images d_d_dallas! Where’d ya get them? Looking at them, homogeneous or not, ya can’t help getting excited. Plus, if I can, I’m gonna try and get my hands on a few JPEGs of future docklands projects I’ve viewed (but still haven’t been formally announced – incl. Eglinton Street and Horgan’s Quay).
Cork is buzzing lately, it’s really encouraging to see.
The Decision Date for Water Street is due on the 25/07/2004 but God knows it’ll probably be later than that knowing our lightning fast planning authorities. I’m expecting a request for Further Info and if and hopefully it does get FULL (not watered down) planning permission, I’m sure An Taisce and probably a few residents will run screaming to An Bord Pleanala. UGH!
But ya never know, with John Hornibrook current development on Camden Quay, even though the Senior Planner and a few businesses nearby complained, Joe Gavin – the City Manager, stood in and pushed the project through – so miracles do happen!
Work on the Cork Bus Station has fiiiiiiiiiiinally begun. Although the revised plans are more of a novelty refurbishment for Cork 2005, they’re still a helluva lot better than the derelict scrub that currently exists.
Also, after the closure of 2 nightclubs in the past 6 months in Cork – for apartment developments – City Properties has announced its plans for a new club over the Classic Bar on South Main Street, where part of the Queen’s Old Castle (now Virgin Megastore and Argos) used to exist. Planning permission has just been sought.
Also, Werdna Ltd. have officially applied for planning permission for their Water Street development (fingers crossed!).
Further info on that conference centre, hotel Dockland proposal – the proposal is actually for Horgan’s Quay (adjacent to Water Street) and the developers are Manor Park Homes, CIE and Treasury Holdings.
Negotiations are still on-going but the plan will incl. a 5000-seat convention centre (not a 3,000 seat), towers between 20 to 25 storeys, a new commercial quarter and new homes. (this is quoted in today’s (3rd June 2004) Commercial Property section of the Irish Examiner)
Also, as reported in the Evening Echo today, the southern docks will be home to a new Sports Arena capable of hosting international events (incl. International Rugby matches), with tracks, swimming and other such facilities. This is part of the Cork Development Draft 2004 – 2009 so its nothing concrete at still up in the sky – interesting though.
Originally posted by Irishtown
lexington- thanks for posting those. Do you have details on the two projects?
Yeah – 21 Lavitts Quay was designed by Patrick Cashman and Associates, and will house the new headquarters of O’Callaghan properties on the top floors. The remaining elements of the building include offices on floors 1, 2 and 3, ground floor reception and retail area plus restaurant. In addition there are 44 apartments and private multi-storey car park at the rear (access via Lavitts Quay). It is due for completion by end of the summer/early autumn. Looking at it from the quays, already it looks very impressive. It’s the only O’Callaghan property that I can say has a genuinely attractive and innovative design. More like these O’Callaghan!
No. 5 and No.6 Lapps Quay has been designed by Coughlan de Keyser Architects (Cork) and developed by O’Flynn Construction. No.5 was a renovation of the old (gruesome) Eircom Building. The entire office building has been sold in floors (1 -> 5) already. Construction on the striking second phase, No.6 is due to begin by the end of the summer and will be complete by Autumn 2005. It will make a fine addition to Lapps Quay (already undergoing a huge development in the form of the City Quarter project). No.6 will consist of further offices over 5 floors and sell and approx. 1.6 million euros each.
Aww lads! (Sigh) This is gonna be one of those things where people think they’re doing something really innovative but in fact, are making a big arse of a mistake. This will be an eye-sore! I am aware of the location and I really feel, if a 15-storey structure is to be built – it should be built in the city centre, not in the middle of Ballygobackwards. Cork County Council had this before with the construction of their 16 (17 if you include the council chambers at the very top) storey County Hall in the 1960s – right in the middle of the countryside at the time. Unlike the proposed Water Street project in Cork city (which will be 19-storeys) high and will be constructed in the city centre, the Queen Meave is void of any surrounding urban infastructure of a sufficient nature. But who knows, maybe it’ll develop the same arrogant admiration Cork County Hall has managed to juice from it citizens.
Will try and get some pics of the Water Street Bridge for ya, its a development on behalf of Cork City Council.
The Hotel and Convention centre were proposed by an as yet undisclosed development group but there may be a spanner in the workers at the announcement of O’Callaghan Properties to develop their previously proposed convention centre at Mahon.
I gotta say, I actually like the design on the Gaiety Centre – although the height of the structure from the western elevation does look out of sync, generally the design does seem to compliment the existing Gaiety front more than consume it. Hmmm – it’s tough to call, but I think it probably more of a shame that good ol’ An Taisce had their wicked way.
Just when people thought things were gonna level off, in the past 3 weeks alone, major planning applications and development plans have been laid out for Cork – coming into effect or fruition over the next few months/years.
Some of these include the 500million euro Ballincollig Town Centre, the est. 60million euro Eglinton Street development, 12 million No.6 Lapps Quay (ALL O’Flynn Construction), 80 million docklands development at Water Street by Werdna (incl. 19-storey residential tower – designed by MOLA), new Howard Holdings Tech and Business Centre on Alfred Quay, 150million euro retail/apartment complex on Academy Street, New Cork School of Music (60million), 35million Rockfell Investments venture on Cornmarket Street and MANY MANY more to boot!
That’s not incl. the plans for the Docklands – for which a new 25million euro tilting bridge is proposed at Water Street to Kennedy Quay and a new 20-storey hotel, 3,000 seat convention centre and offices (rumoured to be aimed 2 large German banks) on Kennedy Quay.
What are your feelings on such? And please feel free to contribute any new but genuinely reliable information on such new developments.
Well it seems my earlier reports have borne fruit and Owen O’Callaghan has indeed been the successful bidder for the Irish Examiner’s Academy Street premises. Along with the Johnson and Perrot premises on Emmet Place, most of Faulkers Lane, and some of Bowling Green Street, O’Callaghan Properties now own 90% of this 1.5 acre block.
Thomas Crosbie Holdings, owners of the Irish Examiner, Sunday Business Post, Evening Echo and 14 other titles – bagged 30 million euros for the sale and – the deal clincher – a 3.5 acre site at O’Callaghan’s Mahon Point complex in the suburbs alongside the South Ring Motorway.
The 3.5 acre site will be leased to Webprint Concepts, a start-up printing company to which the Thomas Crosbie Holdings will outsource its printing.
It is the Irish Examiner’s intention to relocate its non-printing operations (ie. editorial etc) from its Academy Street premises in 2006 to a newly built office building on a site it owns on Lavitts Quay, right next to O’Callaghan’s new 21 Lavitts Quay office building.
O’Callaghan has proposed a new 6-storey retail and apartment development for the Academy Street/Emmet Place/Faulkner’s Lane area – with basement, ground, 1st, 2nd and 3rd floors dedicated to retail operations and 4th, 5th and 6th = apartments. (shudder!)
Other bids I hear from good sources had been made by Howard Holdings, a company owned by Treasury Holdings, Lagan Developments and a consortium involving Cumor Construction, McCarthy Developments (indirectly), Brian McCarthy Construction and possibly P. Elliot Construction.
O’Flynn Construction are focusing on their Ballincollig Town Centre Development and new retail/residential complex at Eglinton Street, Cork city centre.
