urbanisto
Forum Replies Created
- Posts
Regarding a couple of points here:
Signs – so much for the Planning Control Scheme. The Baileys sign was recently renovated, no chance of it disappearing it would seem.
Statues – a project to restore all the OConnellSt statues (and one on Hawkins St) was put out to tender last Autumn. I would imagine it will take place this year along side the kiosk construction and Phase II of the streetworks.Something I find interestimg and little commented on about this whole saga is that of the three buildings shortlisted to hold the theatre – Hawkins House, Collaiste Mhuire and Infirmary Road:
Hawkins House – subject to removal of Health Dept and now it seems to be swapped for land elsewhere
Infirmary Rd – I have just heard is AGREED as the site for the new Courts Service offices along with some of Dept Defences lands.
So when exactly were all these buildings in the running because it would seems their future was planned some time ago.Also been some comment here about the inability of the Hawkins House site to make any statement, ie not having a river frontage. I think there is so much space available here that any architecture worth his salt could design a scheme which gave the building a real sense of presence. Why not face onto a piazza on Townsend St. In fact why not do away with this section of Townsend St completly.
Anyway it would that the Carlton site is being pushed very strongly and the wind may well be blowing in its favour. Court decision due this month.To me this sounds like a thoroughly thought out plan. Whereas a single-line Metro from Airport to…somewhere is just pie in the sky. What is Cullens agenda here? Why the rush to put this Metro in place.
Notice the way all the side windows of the original have been bricked up or were just fake windows to begin with. Also guys this photo doesnt tell you what the rendering to the building looked like…. may well have been a lovely bright yellow!
No. The plan is to complete the north end of the street first and then finally this small stretch. I know – its bizzare. Thats why Im wondering what the rationale behind it is.
Theres a new contempary shopfront being added to the snnoker hall up near the Royal Dublin (still cant remember the name). Gone are the old decorative cast-iron style lighting,,,,in comes modern steel. Its not finished yet but it might work – particularly in light of new pavement and new RDH facade.
Anyone curious to know what happened to the proposed superpub development on Capel Street? Its being turned into a Centra! Surprise surprise eh! Still it seesms it will just replace the exisiting store farther down the street.
Its amazing the rate at which property is changing hands on this street! – the Luas effect.
I notice work has begun on clearing the small park beside City Hall. Hoarding has also been erected. The DCC are planning a new office here. Anyone have any idea what it will look like?
I had just been considering when, if ever, the DCC were going to get a tenant into Liffey House and complete this scheme (its still got railings around it). Moving the Times here is gtood news and I look forward to something positive happening to their current offices. Personally I think they would make excellent residential over retail development. The units culd be small and cater for small business which contribute just as much to the liveliness of a street as large anchor stores. I think the CC should look closely at the whole street now and try and get the best deal possible for it in light of the changes that O’Connell Bridge House and Gas Building are making. The clock will be moved I think. It wouldn’t really make much sensse to retain it. Maybe they could make a feature of it in their new offices.
I suppose the reason it was used Diaspora was because the original Millenium Mall envisaged a development with the Carlton at its centre. This clading was a kind of pre-advertisment fir the new building. Beats the gapping void I guess.
Why is the east-side stretch from Abbey to the Bridge being left until the end to complete. Anyone know. Seems such an odd thing to do. It means you wont realy appreciate the newly completed median and west side. Cant imagine that distruption to business is a problem. Do you think it is due to proposals to run the Luas up to O’Connell St. Are they waiting until this idea is put to bed before they ebing works.
It is amazing how quick and determined the Govt have been in deciding this issue…. No such determination with the confirmation of SPAs and SCAs as required under EU law or proposed NHAs. Money talks it seems.
Graham
On the whole I dont find pastiche terribly offensive. My main problem with it is defining it…. is building in a traditional style ‘pastiche’ or is it just a term used for poor replicas of previous buildings. I think Batchelors Walk works well enough (although whats behind those facades is the very worst of 1990s planning) although I agree its a bit twee and cheap. Still the atttemp to at least incorporate some variety of elements into the scheme is to be commended. Looking at the 1960s pictures… Im not at all sure what as there before was any better apart from its originality. It certainly doesnt scream ‘centre of a capital city’ to you.On the subject of pastiche (my general understanding of it) check out the new facade of the Thing Mote on Suffolk St. Good God! A ‘replica’ of Donoghues on Merrion Row. Absolutely horrendous. A subject for my thesis: ‘why are planners such gombeens!’
You may be interested to know that two new planning notices went up in this area lately. The first involves the demolition of St Olafs and some derelict buildings on Ushers Quay to build a new storey multi block apertmnent complex. The other on the far side of Bridgefoot Street (Ushers Island) simlarly invloved demolition and building of apartments. Then of course there is the whole revamp of STWs hideously misconceived Bridgefoot St flats complex which is curently underway.
Mr McCabe has a very persuasive letter in todays Irish Times. He points out that he is not against public access to the Square but rather is concerned at what DCC will do with it when they take control. He points our that the three other Squares are less than satisfactory, although I am not sure DCC are to blame for Parnell Sq which has always developed differently from the others (Rotunda, Gate etc). Mountjoys deterioration and less than satisfactory revival can definetly be laid at the poor planning practices of the Corpo in the 50s to 80s. Merrion Sq on the face of it is a nice colourful haven in the city and I am not sure that flower beds and sculpture are completly amiss here. However, a review of some of the elements in the park would be welcome. Maybe creating a feature of historic lamps elsewhere in the city and removing some of the sculpture to more suitable and relevent places.
Ultimately though I favour opening Fitzwilliam to the public. Less of an elistist ‘residents only’ approach to public spaces please.
As opposed to being overridden by the whim of a group (ie the councillors themselves – see other threads on poor rural planning).
I cant help but laugh at the reasons behind dropping this scheme. It just highlights the complete disfunctionality of government in Ireland. The plan came into opposition from some Ministers concerned at the inclusion of incinerators. So rather than amend the plans to omit incinerators and other controversial elements and procede with a bill that would facilitate transport only and could be amneded at a later date to include new elements, they drop the whole project! Hilariously the Irish Times suggested they were doing this because there is a general election on the horizon (two and half years from now). In that case let us expect nothing vaguely related to policy or decision making until the after that…. at which point another election will be on the horizon (5 years). Welcome ot the Banana Republic.
Fortunate enough to have a tour of Leinster House recently. The usher told us that the removal of the Lawn was one of his big regrets about the complex (and if any of you have been inside its all pretty grotty and lack-lusture – purple and blue carpets anyone). He said that the carpark was to stay. The plan to develop an underground carpark has been scrapped as too costly and the tarmac will be a permanent monument to the power of the motorcar.
Meanwhile on the other side…. what do you all think of the new welcome pavillion at Kildare Street.
I meant to mention these previously. They look great don’t they. I mjst say the DDDA have made great use of inventive lighting in the whole Docklands areas. Would love to see elements like this integrated into other city areas. City Walls, OConnell St, better bridge lighting.
Im looking forward to seeing the bridge in place. The last time I read it was due up the Liffey in Nov. Being constructed in Poland?? Roll on the NY. Shall we see a Boardwalk extension, improved pedestrian flows under an advertisment-free Loop Line, smartened up Quays at Custom House and Georges Quay, and a spanking new bridge opposite chq. Should be a great improvement. Next the DDDA should remove themselves to some other location in their domain and demolish their present offices.
Its hardly a lost cause! All it requires is a bit of investment or at the very least some replacement wooden sashes and a lick of paint. What a ridiculous thing to say. The fact that so much attention has been lavished on No 1 highlights what can be done with the rest of this fine crescent. It is after all the creation of our most rpized Georgian architect, I can apprecuiate that the Georgian mile of Gardiner Street is a lost cause however that doesnt negate the need for some attention to be paid to the remaining Georgian section either side of Talbot St.
Maybe it is a little full on but then its coming to this with a fresh perspective whereas we can become immune to whats going on to a large degree because it is happening so much. Seems as if the article agrees with you as well Diaspora – Martin Cullen is the scourge of environmentalist in Ireland today.
