Punchbowl

Permission Granted for T2. http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/1025/DAA.html .

Semi-disappointed that Corbalis house is to be demolished. I would of loved to see it retained in within the new Terminal, possibly in the check in area, as a quirky yet poignant reminder of the Airports history..

In terms of overall scale and placement, Stokes Place and Harcourt Garda HQ really bug me. I’m also not a big fan of the the red-brick, hilariously mock-Georgian building opposite the Charlemont Hilton.. And while I’m at it, the new Laughter Lounge Portobello Colleges ‘ Mirrored’ Corner building at Lennox St and the Swan Centre..

@Graham Hickey wrote:

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As Greg says, there’s a perfectly simply solution – put a kerb back in and lay black tarmac as present on the rest of the street – it not only makes the arrangement so much safer, it is more pleasing to the eye.

You have a wide stretch of pedestrians both walking towards each other on the median but they are forced to funnel themselves to either side of the Spire. As a result they often cannot see where they are going, and often continue on walking past the kerbline on the other side – the Spire as an obstacle and all the bollards help generate this confusion.

Perhaps some of the brown super-sticky tarmac that’s in use in some parts of the city would be more appropriate here? I actually think it looks quite well and it’s tone would that little bit more subtle too…

The pedestrian crossing is indeed chaos, but are there other solutions? Railings at the bottoms of Henry St and Nth Earl St would surely only funnel the crowds into each other at each corner and would further congest the pavements..

I can immediately think of why an underpass wouldn’t work, particularly for people crossing specifically for the Spire but would there be any way of implementing this?

From my Desk in Sandyford I get a nice view of Dublin, particularly the sight of the two chimneys rising, er, chimney like, into the sky. The way they stand out and the distance from here that they are has just made be realise how much sky there is to build into, compared to the available land.

High Rise, as has been debated at length IS desirable, but in what scenario, debatable. The fact is though that they’re not the answer to our urban sprawl issues. Ireland is full of traditional, semi dwelling families who would never come round to the idea of apartment living. Even without High Rise, the choice exists currently for Dublin families to live in apartments but they don’t. They’d rather endure living in the Meath/Kildare estates. This may change if the High Rise developments mooted do actually include the promised services and amenities, but it probably won’t..

I’m not overly sure if you could call O’Connell St a ‘Piazza’. While Italy is abundant in them and their stature and quality might vary, I do not ever remember seeing any of them completely sandwiched by traffic.The essence of a good Italian Square ( or Piazza ) is sometimes their Isolation. The GPO ‘Plaza’ will never get that, unless traffic can be restricted to one side of the street. At best, it will provide a convenient space for major public occasions, but little else on a daily basis ( I certainly don’t see waiters from Flanagans risking there lives to deliver a steak and chips to the median anyway ).

Perhaps a focal point somewhere on(or under) the median would help. An underground Museum? Metro Stop??

What a pity Garrett Fitzgeralds days of power are over.. He actually seems to have an informed opinion on matters and doesn’t subscribe to the theory that ‘Infrastructure and development=Motorways’ ( and nothing else ) that our esteemed leaders do today.

Regarding Dublin’s low density and by proxy, low rise, I think the days of saying that this is charming and should be protected is a bit of a cop out. There is simply too much sky in this city, and when skies are as dull as they can be ( Present and recent weeks aside ) the absence of a couple of grand edifices to break the monotony is certainly noticed. Wouldn’t O’Connell st benefit from an extra story or two all over?

Does anyone think that development size in Dublin in the 19th and early 20th centuries was kept deliberately small ? In case we got a bit ahead of ourselves?

A minor upgrade of Morton Stadium would suffice for athletics needs in this country. Unless we plan to hold a major event, the interest in other meetings wouldn’t jutify giving up a large part of a new Soccer/Rugby stadium to a track that will rarely be used.
There’s plenty of development potential in Santry Stadium anyway?

Interesting to see Phoenix Park being mentioned again. Despite the value of wild, barren stretch of land in our ever increasing urban landscape, a planned re-appraisal is definitely required.

Personally I’d love to see the area close to the Zoo being developed as a recreation area. Anyone been to Budapest and visited Margaret’s Island and seen the use of Public Space there ( Water Parks, Bars, Restaurants ) or the park behind Heroes Square ( Zoo, Funfair, Baths ( Indoor and Out ) , Bars etc )?? As is the Park is only accessible to Joggers, those with Cars or to Deer..People don’t go there for any real purpose other than to get out of the house..!!

Isn’t there some Historical laws surrounding development in the Park?

( On another note , getting very annoyed with the City Councils persistence in hanging Christmas lights in those nasty straight lines.. Where’s the love ?? )