urbanisto
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Personally I think the LUAS is going to dramatically change large areas of the city. As the dynaic moves away from car focused streets I can see alot of areas capitalising on this to creat plazas and pedestrian friendly areas. Another good example will be the northside Markets areas which will be totally different in about 5 years from now. Unfortunately it has to be well managaed and depends on developers having a bit of imagination. The new Capel Building for example on the corner of Capel St and Mary’s Abbey is a case in point. It is an awful looking thing… occupying a huge and important site with the ability to dramatically influence its surroundings. The only reason this size building is being constructed here is because oif the proximity to LUAS..indeed LUAS works cleared much of the site.
Re Trinity: Keep the tennis courts…they are few and far between in the city.
I know you must all be so bored of the Spire by now but now that the paving around it is in place and you can see the fully finished product I have to say I am decidedly underwhelmed. That grating at the base is such a cop out. There is no uplighting which I am suprised by. And after the dirty self cleaning Spire….. the really expensive-state of the art-wont need to be replaced for ages lights in the tip have gone out. I hope those lowflying planes that are frequently seen over OC St will be okay!!
The revamped store is nearing completion… I think the opening date is Nov 4. Today they are laying paving around the store on Henry St. And guess what,while it is the high quality grantite slabs used on the street there is no effort to keep to the pattern used perviously of pink stone surrounded by granite…. attention to detail and all that.
Mind you an article in the City Life section of Tues Indo asked why we were spending such huge sums on lovely quality paving when the slabs were being sug up as quick and replaced with tarmac. And when you look at (the €2m repaved) Henry St you can see what the writer meant. Still at least its all level…unike our roads!! Well done lads!
Its the appalling 70s office block looking facade on Henry St thats the main eyesore. But don’t expect too many good things….the article I the Times goes on to say that they only have a budget of €65m for the whole project.
I thought it was copper plating as well. The extension to DIT Cathal Brugha St also has this type of material. It looks good doesnt it…
Why on earth do you suggest pulling it down Deirdre? Why should that be a valid option for such an important building just because it isnt fulfilling its purpose?
I’m not sure what the best option is for for Busaras – whether removing the busese from it and retaining it as offices, or maybe using its bus park for airport buses only. The unfortunate thing about Busaras is that while it might just about manage its original purpose…a central bus station for country buses – the streets around it are woefully inadequate for the traffic generated. It is ridiculous seeing the buses manouver into Store St. In addition the expansion of routes has meant that many buses have to park outside the station….surely one of the things that the original buidling was meant to avoid.
I am looking forward to CIEs proposals for the building….although I am not expecting too much.
There was an article about this in the Times the other day Graham…. use of laser technology to clean the masonry.
Hmm not sure about that… its the buidling beside the back entrance to the Front Lounge. I think its called Skylab
Hmm I wouldn’t egt my hopes up just yet about this Christmas. I can imagine the central median being fully paved but not the rest of the plaza. That going to be a huge job considering the need to control and reroute traffic. Also I can’t see any tree planting or street furniture being installed. A nicer Patricks Day parade might be a more realistic expectation.
I hope they have factored in claning and floodlighting of the various monuments as part of the renovations.
The new paving is coming along very well… I think it will all look fantastic when completed. You can see how the plaza and the malls will meet as regards paving as well… a graduated slope rather than steps. Theres lots of variety and colour in the stones used as well.
Sustainable redevelopment?
DCC have also got rid of some of those ridiculous traffic islands on Talbot St. No longer will buses and cars have to negotiate the abstacle course these created. I know it was all about slowing and managing traffic but it just failed miserably…it was daft. Surely much better to ban cars altogether. Unfortunately they have taken away some of the few trees on the street …. no worries though, they wil put up plenty of galvanised steel poles to compensate
Wouldn’t it be nice if they eyed up the Pennys building as a flagship entrance on O’Connell St…. now that would be an interesting acquisition… an across the street rival to Clerys
That development we discussed a while back…. using the Art Deco garage… is coming on. I think it looks pants though.
More interesting was a DCC revovation of social housing on Boyne St. Old 19c terraces given very sympathetic steel and brick rear extensions and landscaping. I want to live there! Pearse House is next on the list.
Also… a third of the lights on the Boardwalk needing new bulbs. The lanterns on Grattan Bridge still not connected and a summer passed with no Book Fair. All of the (albeit ugly) lamps on the Wellington Quay side are out… The flagpole all need a paint and some interesting banners. So much for the Quays being the place to be seen!
Its a nice street…as is the Lower Abbey St. Spacious, with some good architecture and some important key buildings. It deserves much better than what it has had up to now. I think Abbey is going to really benefit from LUas. As it decreases traffic on the street and allows people to consider other uses fr the buildings it will really rejuvenate the whole thoroughfare. Poor China Showrooms in the meantime…. its closed its doors due to the disruption caused by the track laying…. which I have to honest is taking a ridiculous amount of time.
Thats an interesting story… but I guess its to be expected that DCC will take all the glory for this redevelopment. It is worth noting that there are other people involved, although to be fare the IAP did note this.
The paving looks so bright and clean and I think the use of such bright granite is going to dramatically alter the atmosphere of the street, together with all that stainless steel street furniture. But that cobbling is bound to take ages to complete. Perhaps extra large slabs would have been better.
I have to agree Peter: Its sad to say because the trees have been there for such a long time and deserve better than to be cut down but keeping the mature trees at the North end will completely ruin the symetry of the street, which is one of its strongest elements.
I think the plan is for a second story and services above… I read the planning permission but have forgotten.
I guess the Roches Stores redevelopment has spurred them into action. No movement on the Moore St side yet. Are the two sides complementary or will they be completely different in terms of ‘architectural style’ ( I use the phrase lightly) and scale?
