Radioactiveman
Forum Replies Created
- Posts
@phatman wrote:
….. the incorporation of the structures into this scheme add an imbalance to the overall structure, which is a pity, and since they are going to be covered by glass anyway, and surrounded by a totally uncomplementing development, why not knock them?!
You’ve hit the nail on the head there… ANY new building should compliment its environment and comliment or indeed contrast with adjacent buildings (protected or not).
I would suggest that a) the new development can work well by sharply contrasting adjacent buildings
b)in the case of protected buildings, if a new development is going to cause unsightly imbalance or visual “awkwardness” (for want of a better word) then the new building should not be built.
c)Paul Kenny’s new development i feel works well. There should be no question of altering protected facades to fit in with new designs. It should, of course be vice versa. A good architect will make it work, as they have to a great extent here.Lex, is this type of development similar in design to what has been suggested for Deloitte headquarters opposite City Hall?
Lets face it- the majority of the recent “stone walls” gone up around the country are simply tiling jobs. Around houses and particularly on Bypass’ etc. it is a concrete wall with stones tiled on to the outside.
The thing that makes a stone wall look athentic is that the flat stones are generally laid on top of one another – thus the very thin edge is seen as you look dead on. Recent “stone walls” put the largest surface area facing out – this males the wall look entirely unstable. The key test should be – if I built this without mortar would it fall over? Unfortunately, in the majority of cases with new walls, they would!@lexington wrote:
Blackpool Developments have been granted planning for the development of a childcare centre and overhead 3-bedroom apartment at 45/46 Dublin Street in Blackpool, near Blackpool S.C…… Initially, planner Fiona McSharry, also refused this new application but the decision was overturned by the Director of Planning, Jim O’Donovan.
This is the second time the Director of Planning has intervened in a decision for the Blackpool area lately (Frinailla’s Ladyswell development was also passed despite CCC report reccomending refusal). Is such intervention usual? How often does it happen?
Maybe these interventions represent a concerted effort by the powers that be to give development along the Dublin Street/Watercourse Road spine a well deserved kick up the arse. :rolleyes:
Also, id be interested if someone in the know could write a few lines here about the decision making process inside Navigation House (no jokes please!!). Once an application drops on the mat, who sees it? where does the City Manager and Director of Planning fit into the process. I’m sure everyone has a vague idea of what happens but I’d appreciate if someone could let me know the full story. 🙂
Also of note in the Blackpool area, John Hogan has been refused permission for retention of a 3-storey + converted attic (5 Apartment) development on Upper John Street. The site also has a detached two storey building built in what was the rear garden!
The main 3 storey building has NO internal stairs. An exterior stairs on the rear of the building is the means of access to the upper floors.
No parking is provided for the development and no reasonable open space. The CCC report has rightly labelled it an overdevelopment. This must be one of the most flagrant breaches of planning law i’ve seen in a long number of years. I presume it will be appealled to ABP.Anybody know what use (if any) Hegarty’s are going to make of their long disused site adjacent to their head office on Leitrim Street. This is a very well positioned site with views of Shandon and Cathedral and opposite the old brewery buildings at Ladys Well. What with all the work going on in the immediate vivcinity, I think it shouldn’t be long before we hear something from Hegarty’s.
Work seems to be zooming along at the Webworks site adjacent to City Hall. Does anybody have an image of what this will actually look like?
I’m delighted to see that AIB have been given the green light for their new Watercourse Road Branch- the building itself will be fine addition to the street. Frinailla propose a bank in their LadysWell development down the Street. I’m not sure how this will work out though. Incidently, both parts of that development has been appealled by local residents to An Bord Pleanala.
An application for planning has recently been submitted for 6 houses in O’Connell Place, off Watercourse Road. This is becoming an interesting trend in the area recently- old, long vacant ‘brownfield sites are being turned into new residential schemes to “beat the band”.
O’Donoughues Coal Yard, Bleasby Street, Off Shandon St, etc. Anybody with a small Workshop/ yard in the area could make a killing!
On that topic, there is a large site on Watercourse Road (on the Church side of T&A Builders Providers). Those anybody know who owns same? Seems like some prime real estate.@lexington wrote:
An aspirational development RM. It has been looked at by some developers, including a plan for a 14-storey residential tower (I think!) planned for a site along the Commons Road on the approach to Blackpool (haven’t seen any plans, just talk) – but I can’t see that progressing anytime soon. The area for a start is zoned light industrial/commercial usage. But who knows?!
Are we talking about the ICI site? Go on you can tell me…. 😎
Lexington,
Whats your news on Eglington Street?
Im glad I might have started a bit of a debate on the issue of LANDMARK buildings. In my view, although Water Street was good and handled very badly by the planning authority, the ‘landmark’ tower was simple not landmark. I take your point that something alien to the overall design would have looked out of place but the tower itself simple gets lost in the overall development.Lex, u mentioned “and the way plans for a landmark development in Blackpool does to the North.” are you talking about an existing, planned or aspirational development?
Does anyone know whats going on at the Glucksman Gallery, UCC these days? Two floors have been closed for the past while for “construction”.
The refusal of the Water Street development is nothing short of criminal. That’s for sure. However, it raises the question: what is a landmark building?
It seems to me the tower was refused bcause it looked too much like the rest of the development to be considered ‘landmark’, i’d kind of agree with this definition- i mean, whats the point in having a landmark building if it just looks the same as the rest of it- just bigger. i.e. bigger does not make it ‘landmark’.
That being said, landmark or not, this was an excellent development which has been pissed away by some backward planners in CCC.
Fingers crossed for some sort of intervention.
Anyone been able to lay their hands on images of the new archives in Blackpool?@rodger wrote:
I have viewed this proposal in detail incl.images from 8 different locations.I think Kiosk have carried out a great piece of work so GOOD is my verdict.What is your opinion Radioactiveman?
I’ve seen all the plans & images for this scheme.
I think its very average. Id like to see something much better and more suitable but i’m aware that this has gone on for too long already.
Height/ density i really dont think was a problem with the objectors. It seemed to be about finishing and a facade on Watercourse Road more in keeping with the size of the street. I guess its up to ABP now.RM
I’d be interested to know what people think of Frinailla’s Ladyswell development: good/bad/ugly?
the link is located 3 messages up.@lexington wrote:
My response earlier to pier39 , was based on the projects that have been actively applied for. I’ll get back to this at a later stage – this evening probably.
Any opinions of the images of Montomery/Kenneally/Supple proposal for the Boreenmanna Road? (See link in my prev. post).Lexington: I didn’t mean to suggest that your previous response was anything but excellent- i was just getting my oar in!
With regard to Boreenmanna rd, notice all the lovely trees– I think it was Frank Lloyd Wright who said that an artist can paint over his mistakes, an architect can just advise the client to plant ivy. 🙂
The most crucial development Cork needs at this time is a 5,000/6,000 seater arena for conferences/concerts, etc.
Its pretty appallling that KIllarney and Kilkenny can hold annual concert series (even without an arena) and Cork (the second city) can barely stretch to a few concerts for CORK2005.
The arena should- OF COURSE be located in the docklands. Any other location (especially Mahon Point) is ridiculous. A Docklands arean would allow visitors and corkonians alike to walk from the city to the arena instead of everyone getting in there car and blocking up the whole of Mahon.
When can we expect an announcement from CCC in this regard?That McCarthy Development’s Student Accomodation at Bishopstown looks like some terrible planning. It’s analagous to the inspired decision to build student accomodation at the train station. The train station!!!! thats pretty much as far as you can be away from UCC/CIT and still be in Cork CIty.
Plus, building over Sports facilities is pretty dodgy territory.
_______________________________________________________________________________________Does anyone know what Leaders on North Main Street are up to? They seem to be fitting out that long vacant shop close to their larger store. All property owned by the company on the street is in need of a facelift. Lets hope thats what they are up to.
_______________________________________________________________________________________There was an interesting article on the Evening Echo on Saturday talking about a lifting bridge at Water Street area. Apparently CCC are in the very early stages of assessing its viability. They had an interesting image of what it might look like. Not sure of the source of the image. Any details?
On a related topic, Werdna’s Water street project will be given the thumbs up/down next Monday.
_______________________________________________________________________________________I have heard on the grapevine that Frinailla’s development on Watercourse road (Ladys Well), which was granted permission after a long, drawn out planning process by CCC, will almost definately be appealled to ABP. This will further lengthen the already elongated process.
_______________________________________________________________________________________Next Wednesday (20th) is the closing date for entries to the Kyrls Quay Architectural Design Competition run by CCC/CORK2005/RIAI.
I’ve been lucky enough to view a number of the entries and there is some excellent work there. I think, most importantly, that the general public, will be more than happy with the designs and most will also please the architecture critics 🙂
Expect the results to be made available sometime in late May.Does anyone know what kind of objections/submissions were lodged against the AIB’s proposals for Watercourse Road?
I don’t agree that too much boardwalk will be good for the quays. Looking at dublin’s quays they look cluttered with this thing grafted onto them. In fairness the boardwalk at CIty Quarter looks fine but to overdo this all over the city quay walls would be a big mistake. Below City Quarter would be fine but we should not repeat the mistake of dublin.
Lexington, the green hut is called the fireman’s hut since it was originally where a fireman kept a watch in case there was a fire on patrick street. Quite what he was supposed to do in case of fire, I don’t know 🙂
Now, radioactiveman likes a bit of CULTURE. So the other day I headed off to Caroline Street to visit the APE OPERA HOUSE! Its located in the old ESB power house on the street (turn onto Maylor st. from Patrick Street and take your first right- i.e. behind Cash’s/Brown Thomas).
I’d urge everyone to take a look at this exhibition- not only for the art- which is a kind of a cross between Planet of the Apes and a night at the opera with lots of plaster! but the building itself is amazing.
It’s a three storey building, originally constructed by Siemens as the power house for the whole city. Its dusty and in need of a clean up but is just crying out to be used as a pemanent exhibition space or museum type affair. The remnants of its industrial past are everywhere and the building is wonderfully lit by nice large windows. Im told, that on the top floor (which is not open to the public) contains the old switchboards for the old electric trams which once traversed the city. It is, i’m told of major historical importance!
This building has stood empty and abandoned for many years. The ESB seem to have no use for it. It is of major historical importance to the city and is a great example of the beauty of functionality in architecture. This is a building built to do a job- no more, no less. That is where its architectural value lies. I’d urge everyone to go to the exhibition- see http://www.cork2005.ie for details and take a look. The artist and indeed Cork2005 deserve high praise- not only for the artistic merit of the work, but for re-introducing us to a gem of a building- just off Patrick st, which i’d forgotten had even existed – NOW THAT’S CULTURE!Hehehe..
Back to serious matters…. According to CCC website, Frinailla’s Ladyswell has been given conditional planning permission. But, in the report (also online) it recomends refusal. Anybody know whats going on? I’m confused (as usual)Just to allay any fears, i was taking the p*** with my last text- it is April 1st after all! 😀
Any news on Ladyswell?
As promised yesterday, here’s a few images of a development which is about to be submitted for planning in the next few weeks.
Its located on UCC owned ground at Mardyke Walk – most recently used as a GAA pitch by the college. The site is adjacent to Fitzgerald park (Seperated by Ferry Walk) and links up with Daly’s Bridge (Shakey Bridge) with access to the Northside.
The development will consist of 5-6 story glass and steal structure in three blocks. The buildings will house 5 large lecture theatres (at least as large as those in the Boole Basement) and a number of departments will be housed there- specifically Law and Celtic Studies.
The development will also house the proposed new Wrixon Advanced Management Institute. Architects are AFD Architects:confused: The mystery deepens over lady”s well
Those anyone know who owns The Loft- stretching from North Main Street to Coal Quay? What with the impending development in the area, this site must be in line for development in the near future.
In the same area, there is an old warehouse on Grattan Street (opposite Henry Grattan Pub) which would look great converted to entertainment or office use.
Someone sent me a great image of a fantastic proposed development in the City yesterday. I’ll try to put it on here today or tomorrow. Its really really exciting!!
