urbanisto
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Speaking of Dublin Civic Trust its 2 years since this report was welcomed by City Council and businesses in the area http://issuu.com/dctrust/docs/capel_street_and_the_city_markets_-_revised_2011
Mary Street, yesterday
I came across this interesting render on http://www.facebook.com/comeheretome Sorry I dont know who to credit it to.
Its an interesting solution to a site that has remained surprisingly unresolved for so long. Another option of course is a plain old simple green space or pocket park. The commercial use of the site however has the advantage of making it better cared for (at least in theory) with attention from the premises owners each day.
Re the new A&F store – A planning application has now been lodged to retain the building wrap advertising for a further 6 months while the facade is cleaned and restored. Wasnt it cleaned and restored in 2006 when Habitat moved in?
@lauder wrote:
More tackiness for Westmoreland Street. I dispair!
Fexco Currency Exchange had put in for PP for new signage. Ignoring the fact they already illegally installed a protruding sign recently.
Dwgs: http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00367902.pdf
App No: WEB1062/12
I hope someone has the energy to object?
Refused.
Interesting to see that the two LED signs on Capel Street referred to above have now been removed.
Elsewhere, on O’Connell Street, here is an interesting outcome with that perennial problem causer in the city Spar. Spar just cant seem to get its look and branding right so that it effectively reflects its businesses while also being respectful of the buildings and streetscapes within which its businesses sit.
In this instance, the Spar at 63-64 O’Connell Street has applied for an now been granted permission for new signage. Its worth reading through the planners report and the submission by An Taisce which has itself made much of poor quality signage in the city centre. I thought this point in the Planners Report was interesting:
In addition to the above, the various attachments to the building (projecting signs etc) do not have the benefit of permission and these should be removed. Finally, it is noted that the
coffee shop company ‘Insomnia’ operates from the shop. The applicant should be asked to
clarify if this has permission.This business of installing a franchise within an existing shop has been going for quite some time. It has allowed Subway for example to circumvent the policy of limiting further fast-food units within the ACA and ASPC. It seems to have happened with impunity so its curious that it has been referred to now. From the thread of correspondence it appears that the applicant suggested that the coffee shop use did not require planning permission as it was a subsidiary use. The planner has countered this however and required a formal grant of permission. The matter has also been referred to the Planning Enforcement Section (I cant imagine that will have them quaking in their boots).
From Dublin Civic Trust
Historic Street Lighting – A Model for Dublin
A successful retrofitting of historic street lights with energy-efficient LEDs has been recently undertaken in the centre of the German city of Leipzig. The innovative project was spearheaded by Braun Lighting Solutions of Berlin and solid-state lighting experts Future Lighting Solutions, with the aim of renovating and making more efficient the host of historic Schinkel gas lamps that have been a feature of the historic city centre of Leipzig since the nineteenth century.
The challenge for the project engineers was to incorporate energy efficient LEDs into the historic lamps in a manner that replicated the appearance of the original clusters of gas mantles inside each lantern head, as well as maintaining the ambient warm glow of gas light that is a defining characteristic of the city centre after nightfall. The initial models for Braun’s trial were the last three original gas lamps in front of the famous St. Thomas Church, the home of Johann Sebastian Bach.
“In Leipzig, the LED technology of the future meets the past of city lights which are more than 150 years old,” said Andre Braun, CEO of Braun Lighting Solutions. “Our approach keeps the traditional form of the lamps but lets them shine in a new light through advanced LED technology. We have been able to deliver on the goals for energy efficiency and environmental protection at the same time as meeting the requirement to preserve a historical artefact.”
By equipping the 360 Schinkel lights around St. Thomas Church with the latest LUXEON® Rebel LEDs, the city can save €20,000 a year in energy costs. The LED lamps consume only 22W, by comparison with the 85W power consumption of the lamps they replace. This 73.3% reduction in the power load also reduces CO2 emissions by 60.8 tonnes per year. Thus, the project is an important contribution to the implementation of urban climate protection goals in Germany.
To achieve the effect of gas lighting, the original parts of the historic lamps were supplemented with a patent-pending technology that mimics the size and arrangement of the previous mantles. The four mantles were replaced by four LED modules covered by satined glass, giving the impression of glowing mantles suspended within the lamps. The difference between the LED lamps and the gas light originals can only be detected on close inspection. An elegant touch was the incorporation of a single 1.2W LED in the roof of each lamp to provide a subtle glow for the opal glass at the top of the unit. Future Lighting Solutions also managed the process of ensuring consistency in colour temperature across all of the hundreds of LEDS used in the sceheme.
A Model for Dublin?
The Trust believes this is the type of project that Dublin should be undertaking as part of its Draft Public Realm Strategy in partnership with the Lighting Department of Dublin City Council. There is a number of locations where such as world-class synergy of heritage conservation and cutting-edge technology should be utilised, including, for example, the re-erection of the original 84 historic oil lamps that once graced the railings of Mountjoy Square, through to reinstating the private lamps of many of the city’s Georgian streets, as has been successfully undertaken in Edinburgh. Dublin’s quays could also benefit from such unified treatment, as well as many of its smaller streets and lanes.The Trust has also advocated the retention of the traditional pillar standards on Grafton Street as part of its proposed repaving plan, and retrofitting them with correctly designed, high quality historic Dublin lantern heads fitted with sparkling LEDs.
In spite of the widespread use of silver Scotch Standard lampposts on the city’s streets – many reproduction – extraordinarily, there are almost no enclaves of historic lighting left anywhere in Dublin. Recent attempts to replace lantern heads on St. Stephen’s Green and the Ha’penny Bridge have resulted in poor, factory-produced imitations that in no way accord with Georgian oil and Victorian gas lighting in the city, while historic lighting even outside public buildings leaves a lot to be desired. There is a sore need for a reassessment of Dublin city centre’s lighting needs and how the city can best present itself through informed lighting design as part of a high quality public realm. One option could be to undertake a short study of historic Dublin lamp types, and incorporate these into the palette of materials currently being composed by Dublin City Council as part of its upcoming Public Realm Strategy.
Below is a part of a DCC response made to me when I queried a number of half completed lighting schemes in prominent parts of the city. It might interest others:
The majority of the outstanding work involved will have to be carried out on Sundays as they are main traffic routes. Dublin City Council has plans in place to complete these projects but is however experiencing difficulty in getting them finished for the following reasons:
· Lack of staff due to the embargo on employment
· The difficulty of getting the staff that are available to work every Sunday
· The retirement of some key staff
· The pressure of completing other projects
· The fact that Dublin City Council has to find funding for these projects when it did not expect to have to fund them
Much of the lost time in completing the projects, to date, arose because Dublin City Council was pursuing the contractors involved in the various developments to deliver on their commitment. Unfortunately Dublin City Council now has to accept that these contractors are no longer in a position to deliver the works required and the City Council is left to deal with the problems. Dublin City Council will work on completing these projects this year but realistically some of the projects are unlikely to be completed until next year.
Please see below for information on the individual public lighting schemes you have queried:
College Green
The Historic Paving Stones are currently in storage and will be re-laid within the coming weeks as work at ground level is almost complete. Works to be completed by end September 2012
Pearse Street
For various reasons it has been difficult to close off this project.
At Trinity College Dublin Science Gallery Dublin City Council went in to install the columns on the into town side after the civil contractor had completed his works. Unfortunately Dublin City Council could only install two of the four columns (these are the two columns with no lanterns on them) because some of the ducts that were to have been installed by the contractor could not be found and the electrical supply was not provided. Efforts were made to contact the contractor without success. Temporary lighting was installed on the far side of the street to maintain a good lighting level on the street.
At some of the junctions along Pearse Street some existing columns still have to be removed. These were not removed at the time due to electrical supplies inside the columns being used by other utilities such as cameras, bollards, traffic light controllers, telemetry meter cabinets and so on.
East of the junction with Macken Street on the out of town side again (called Gallery Quay) Dublin City Council was unable to complete works because of missing or damaged ducts. Here an additional pole had to be installed to get an overhead supply to the 4 no. new lights along here. The contractor who carried out the ducting works, Pierse Contracting has since gone into liquidation.
Ringsend Village
Work originally began in Ringsend as part of a rejuvenation project including redesigning pavement layout and the provision of a complete new lighting installation. The responsibility for developing the plan was given to consultant architects and the contract was awarded to a contractor. These improvements were being funded by the DDDA.
The Contractors were responsible for installing the foundation bases, ducts, cable chambers as well as installing the new lighting system. The lighting columns chosen for Ringsend were rejected by the residents meaning the lighting installation could not proceed. Dublin City Council’s Lighting Division inherited several issues from the Contractor (including sourcing of suitable columns manufactured to fit the foundation bases already provided by the contractor).
A concerted effort was made in 2007 to complete the scheme. However, significant problems were encountered. These included: missing foundation bases, loose foundation bolts, misaligned bolts, several foundation bases missing bolts, damaged ducts and cables.
A Civil Contractor was working on correcting these issues with approximately €50,000 spent on correcting the workmanship of the Contractor. Unfortunately due to missing or damaged ducting and foundation bases Dublin City Council have only managed to complete 60% of the project.
Merrion Square
The lamp standards referred to in your e-mail are the inner steel cores of the replica columns. The outer embellishments which are an identical replica of the original lamp standards will be fitted by mid August 2012.
Ya wait years for an applications for Parnell Street that might suggest a change of attitude to a street in almost terminal decline and this is what you get http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00363858.pdf
The Carrolls front isnt too bad…its just plastered with tat. There seems to be no desire to present a business. Its wierd because they are generally quite clued up guys.
This one used to look so much better. In fact it is put up by the City Council as one of the limited number of successes it notched up when the Shopfront Guidelines were introduced and a campaign put in place to enforce them.
Its worth a read of the planners report in relation to this application. This paragraph in particular stands out:
The application site is a commercial unit situated on the ground floor of the 5 storey building
which is adjoining the Bank of Ireland on College Green. Westmoreland Street has a large
number of poor quality shopfronts which have developed over a long number of years. The
site is situated just on the edge of the O’Connell Street Architectural Conservation Area.
Westmoreland Street, which has been in decline for a number of years and quality retail
units are limited, due to the high pedestrian movements along the footpaths and due to a
large number of bus stops which all create a very busy thoroughfare. In Nov 2003 the
Council prepared and issued the ‘Shop Front Design Guidelines – The O’Connell Street
Area’.And? Didnt do much else. Otherwise how does one explain the offences to the senses that line this once grand street.
@GrahamH wrote:
Well, as expected ever since those floodlights went up a month ago on the giant scaffold covering the former Habitat premises, Abercrombie are taking advantage of their prime pitch on College Green by advertising their arrival to the city – and neighbouring planets – with a vast advertising banner depicting a scantily clad youngster in striking monochrome tones. It has to be said it is exquisitely finished – the canvas as taught, polished, nipped and tucked as yer man’s torso.
Of course the big boys get away with such enormously lucrative free advertising without a whimper from DCC, even though such an initiative could be used to restore historic buildings across the city if the will was there.
According to the Irish Times…
The Dublin banner has drawn criticism on grounds of taste, and council officials are investigating whether the four-storey advertisement complies with planning regulations.
The full story on the A&F phenomenon here http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0714/1224320029446.html
Right, I’m off to the gym…
Came across this on the great Come Here To Me blog http://blogtrotta80s.blogspot.ie/2007/07/james-joyces-land-august-1985.html
Check out College Green 1985 without the trees (or at least with baby ones). I havent figured out quite why the whole city seems deserted in the photos though.
@StephenC wrote:
This London-style rank of pointless bollards unfortunately left in place. And that bloody fencing.
Came across a response by the City Manager to a councillor requesting the removal of this fencing:
Due to the design of the building with numerous nooks and crannies the harris fencing is preventing rough sleeping, loitering, dumping and anti-social behavior. It also allows Gardaí and security staff to see if anyone is in behind the fencing. Although its appearance is not aesthetically pleasing it is serving its function and it would be better to leave it in place until the building is occupied, than to have it removed or replaced with a hoarding.
I have developed serious body issues as a result of the Aberzombie & Fitch poster. And since when did everyone start showing off their lack of pubes!? Should I be trimming :wtf:
Anyways….next door-ish, Danske Bank have today announced the closure of much of their branch network in Ireland including the beautiful College Green branch (or is this Dame Street?). Its likely to go up for sale…just like the imposing O’Connell Street branch which closed a few years back and has lain idle ever since.
I’ve started so I’ll finish….eh not quite.
Pearse Street – there are 7 lamps here…and this is but one section of the street. Works took place in 2007.
Bride Street – think this work just recently started but it begs the question: why start another scheme while there are so many unfinished schemes.
Marlborough Street
College GreenTesco have just been granted permission from Dublin City Council for a new store on the square at Units 18-19…formerly The Complex. The decision awaits a final grant.
The off-licence of the store element was removed.
I love this ‘unambiguous’ condition
7. Security roller shutters and their casing, if installed, shall be recessed behind the perimeter glazing and shall be factory finished in a single colour to match the colour scheme of the building. Such shutters shall be of the ‘open lattice’ type and shall not be used for any form of advertising, unless authorised by a further grant of planning permission Reason: In the interests of visual amenity
Its obviously up to you guys whether to create a dreadful dead frontage at night.
Details of the proposed signage and frontage http://www.dublincity.ie/AnitePublicDocs/00370038.pdf
Smithfield almost complete….
Still faffing around with the services pavillion thingy but otherwise the space has been returned to the city albeit now surrounded by these swanky new beech hedges in planters.
Annoyingly, you can wander about and spot plenty of small patches of tarmac or missing pavoirs in the original section. A bit of snagging wouldn’t have gone amiss.
In addition to the southern section of the square, a number of the adjoining streets such as Haymarket and New Church Avenue have been cobbled and repaved.
The scheme extends down May Lane towards the City Markets area (hopefully next on the list)
This London-style rank of pointless bollards unfortunately left in place. And that bloody fencing.
I like the new LED lights here.
The new Generator Hostel on the square was buzzing this afternoon. Seems to be doing a roaring trade. Unfortunately, tourists from the hostel are the main footfall on the square. Hopefully that will change….lots of empty shops to fill.
