Hawkins House to be demolished

Muahahaha

I'll believe it when I see it but the Indo reports today that one of the biggest eyesores in the city center, aka Hawkins House/Dept of Health, could be set for demolition.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/health-hq-voted-as-citys-ugliest-building-set-to-be-demolished-31439409.html

Also interesting is that there is a one bedroom flat on the very top floor of the building

The upper level of the building has been unoccupied for some time.
At the top of the building is a penthouse flat which hasn't been used since the 1970s, complete with floral wallpaper and one bedroom.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar did a tour of the building when he took office and was surprised to discover the flat at the summit. "There was this lurid floral wallpaper on the walls, a dirty avocado toilet suite and some old whiskey bottles scattered about. There was just one bedroom. I've no idea who, if anyone, lived in it," Mr Varadkar told a newspaper last year.

fiachr_a

So will Oisín House across the road.

power pants

will be a nightmare to demolish with all the buildings so close?

would love to see the apartment

January

power pants wrote: »

will be a nightmare to demolish with all the buildings so close?

would love to see the apartment

Not really, they probably just will not be able to implode it.

mojesius

The building is a fcuking eyesore but a fine symbol of our crumbling health system. Can we tear down Liberty Hall when we're at it? We just need one giant wrecking ball swinging to and fro across the Liffey (mulligans must be left intact though)

expectationlost

and they considering movingthem to the central bank building, poor people

fleet_admiral

Now they should rebuild the Theater Royale

Teyla Emmagan

That's amazing news, if it happens. I hate that building, and the other hideous yoke beside it.

FloatingVoter

I'd honestly go to Mulligans more if that yoke wasn't there. And me with a drink problem and no interest in architecture.

power pants

FloatingVoter wrote: »

I'd honestly go to Mulligans more if that yoke wasn't there. And me with a drink problem and no interest in architecture.

im sure something equally as **** will be built in its place :pac:

newacc2015

power pants wrote: »

im sure something equally as **** will be built in its place :pac:

A lovely generic 4 storey apartment block(Im going to guess rough red brick). If there isnt too much lobbying, they might even stretched to a 5 storey building.

In all seriousness, Trinity is trying to demolish the most horrific building on campus around the corner (Luce hall) and replace it with a Business School. Their planning keeps getting rejected, as it will destroy Pearse streets skyline or lack of.


I hope Hawkins house is replaced with an energy efficient high rise. They can look excellent if done right. Irish architecture has improved eg convention centre, bord gais theatre, Google HQ. Even the relatively modest Irish times building looks excellent

power pants

very true about modern irish buildings these days, I was just being lazy

newacc2015

power pants wrote: »

very true about modern irish buildings these days, I was just being lazy

I wouldnt put it past someone in Government putting a 4 storey building on the site. Although Irish Rail are building high rise across the road at Tara street.

Like there is zero risk of the Government not being able to let a high quality, high rise office block. An American MNC will rent it for 20 years no issues.

deandean

I heard yhat the Dept of Health is gonna move to a brand new 16 storey building on the Mater Hospital campus.

Apparently there is a full set of plans already drawn up 'an all.

OldGoat

I agree that it's an eyesore and should go but I fear for the existence of Mulligans (as it is now) as the surrounding area undergoes more gentrification.

hmmm

In the city centre, at the centre of public transportation, it's a perfect location for two 20 story towers with modern offices and decent apartments. Seriously, we won't get many opportunities like this.

PolaroidPizza

How much of a pay increase will the staff want to be trained up on the use of a new building?

LXFlyer

hmmm wrote: »

In the city centre, at the centre of public transportation, it's a perfect location for two 20 story towers with modern offices and decent apartments. Seriously, we won't get many opportunities like this.

It might also be a suitable location for a second bus station.

FloatingVoter

lxflyer wrote: »

It might also be a suitable location for a second bus station.

I suggest a Stalinesque monument to Bertie Ahern. We can solve the congregation of junkies / seagull problem in one go. It also gives the natives a natural outdoor toilet.
....he can be sat astride a lovely horse.

ProudDUB

Any chance the demo experts could accidently on purpose leave a few lbs of dynamite anywhere near the Corpo bunkers at Wood Quay?

FloatingVoter

ProudDUB wrote: »

Any chance the demo experts could accidently on purpose leave a few lbs of dynamite anywhere near the Corpo bunkers at Wood Quay?

That was tried already. Turned out the bomb alert came from inside the bunkers and the key suspects were present and pissed in the Lord Edward as per ****ing usual.

JupiterKid

I would be delighted to see that complete eyesore that is Hawkins House go.

It should be replaced by another high rise building - hopefully much easier on the eye.

Fleawuss

newacc2015 wrote: »

A lovely generic 4 storey apartment block(Im going to guess rough red brick). If there isnt too much lobbying, they might even stretched to a 5 storey building.

In all seriousness, Trinity is trying to demolish the most horrific building on campus around the corner (Luce hall) and replace it with a Business School. Their planning keeps getting rejected, as it will destroy Pearse streets skyline or lack of.


I hope Hawkins house is replaced with an energy efficient high rise. They can look excellent if done right. Irish architecture has improved eg convention centre, bord gais theatre, Google HQ. Even the relatively modest Irish times building looks excellent

The Convention Centre looks like a joke at our expense. Maybe it's me but every time I see it I see a pint glass tipped up to the mouth!

Fleawuss

Teach Haicin, Sraid Haicin, BAC a do. ��

fleet_admiral

lxflyer wrote: »

It might also be a suitable location for a second bus station.

I had a mad idea years ago along the lines of moving the central bus station out past the M50, turning Busaras into an underground station linking to the railway terminals and going out to the new massive bus station in somewhere like Ashbourne.
Mad idea I know but it would free up the city centre traffic

dubscottie

power pants wrote: »

will be a nightmare to demolish with all the buildings so close?

would love to see the apartment

Very easy to take down. Flat panel system built so only a few bolts and gravity holding it together.. Angle grinder and a tower crane, bit by bit.

Did it with some tower blocks in the UK built the same way.

FloatingVoter

dubscottie wrote: »

Very easy to take down. Flat panel system built so only a few bolts and gravity holding it together.. Angle grinder and a tower crane, bit by bit.

Did it with some tower blocks in the UK built the same way.

There are drunk people on here with tools who could use this information to do some voluntary demolition work. In about as much time as it takes to wake five lads and boost a crane.
But I'll probably go to bed instead.

ProudDUB

FloatingVoter wrote: »

There are drunk people on here with tools who could use this information to do some voluntary demolition work. In about as much time as it takes to wake five lads and boost a crane.
But I'll probably go to bed instead.

You do whatever you need to do. I'll provide hiding space in my attic and an alibi as to you whereabouts, for as long as you need them.

Fleawuss wrote: »

The Convention Centre looks like a joke at our expense. Maybe it's me but every time I see it I see a pint glass tipped up to the mouth!

I dunno. I kinda like the Convention Centre. It is - pardon the pun - unconventional, in the sense that it shows a bit of imagination & creativity. It's not just yer bog standard 6-10 story glass office block, like the rest of the office buildings on the quays. I don't mind a bit of yer aul modren architecture, as long as it is relatively easy on the eye & it doesn't give a big eff you to it surroundings. The civic office at Wood Quay are horrendously ugly, as well as being a disgrace to their location & the age, beauty & history of the buildings close to them. I don't think the Convention Centre ticks those boxes to the same degree.

ongarboy

Article from last Sunday's Sunday Times below (I don't have online subscription to link article) so scanned this gives more details of proposed future plans. A building up to 22 storeys is permitted in Dublin City Council plans so that would be a significant change to the skyline!

Muahahaha

Fleawuss wrote: »

The Convention Centre looks like a joke at our expense. Maybe it's me but every time I see it I see a pint glass tipped up to the mouth!

A mate of mine said the same thing when it was built, he reckoned that Guinness should sponsor it and put their logo on the outside of the pint glass !

FloatingVoter

NCAD Ist Year Project: Draw a lonely chair (scratch: Van Gogh did that)
NCAD Ist Year Project: Draw a drunken barrel (scratch: Dublin Convention Centre did that)

This is no joke - a wobbly barrel was the kernel of the final convention centre design.

To be honest, without knowing that, it works as streamlined design with function intact. Compare it to the unimaginative piece of excrement that sits aloft in the middle of O'Connell St. A wobbly keg for drunken delegates is an Irish wink at architectural posterity. Think of that and smile next you pass.

spurious

Whatever happened the proposed statue in the Liffey that some said would look like a man having a slash? Just thought of it today.

http://archiseek.com/2009/wire-man-set-to-wade-in-to-liffey-as-10-year-planning-permission-granted/

At almost the height of the Statue of Liberty, it certainly would make an impression.

ToxicPaddy

I actually like the convention centre design. A lot of friends of mine who have visited Dublin from abroad have commented on how much they like it too and one of them is an architect.

carlmango11

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

I actually like the convention centre design. A lot of friends of mine who have visited Dublin from abroad have commented on how much they like it too and one of them is an architect.

I feel like the architect designed the slanting glass bit and then just rushed the rest. The rest of the building is just an ugly, square slab. Looks disgusting from the side or back.

FreudianSlippers

carlmango11 wrote: »

I feel like the architect designed the slanting glass bit and then just rushed the rest. The rest of the building is just an ugly, square slab. Looks disgusting from the side or back.

In fairness, the convention centre isn't finished as a result of the recession.

MagicMarker

The convention centre looks great from the front, from the back it looks like a prison.

FreudianSlippers

Source

hardCopy

I want to know who lived in that flat. It has all the makings of a scandalous love nest belonging to some former minister or senior civil servant.

L1011

hardCopy wrote: »

I want to know who lived in that flat. It has all the makings of a scandalous love nest belonging to some former minister or senior civil servant.

I really want to see it, the description is perfect of a terrible 1970s shagpad above the city you were likely living off the proceeds of something dodgy from.

Also, what booze the bottles are from.

deandean

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Definitely a Charlie Haughey proposal for an iconic building to which the citizens of Dublin would aspire.

carlmango11

I guessing the tower that was to be built beside it is either:

• Cancelled, never going to happen
• Rejected because it's taller than the houses Irish people are used to living in

FreudianSlippers

carlmango11 wrote: »

I guessing the tower that was to be built beside it is either:

• Cancelled, never going to happen
• Rejected because it's taller than the houses Irish people are used to living in

I was saying that over on SSC, I think the 2nd proposal was the more likely one and they planned on the DCC cutting it at that "atrium" level just above the current elevation of the Convention Centre. AFAIK that'd make it about the same size as a few of the places across the river.

Muahahaha

Are the NAMA plans to develop a hotel behind the Convention Centre still going ahead?

FreudianSlippers

Muahahaha wrote: »

Are the NAMA plans to develop a hotel behind the Convention Centre still going ahead?

I think the Convention Centre is owned by the OPW as opposed to NAMA, but AFAIK the plan is still to build that hotel or else sell the right to build it (the latter being the better option I would think).

Muahahaha

I'd thought I heard something about Sean Mulryan/Ballymore hoping to proceed with it, though I'm not sure if planning still exists for a hotel that tall. It'll still be good to get something decent built there and then when its done maybe they will re-visit the cladding on the Convention Center itself, it detracts from the architecture rather than adding to it IMO.

FreudianSlippers

Muahahaha wrote: »

I'd thought I heard something about Sean Mulryan/Ballymore hoping to proceed with it, though I'm not sure if planning still exists for a hotel that tall. It'll still be good to get something decent built there and then when its done maybe they will re-visit the cladding on the Convention Center itself, it detracts from the architecture rather than adding to it IMO.

Height was definitely rejected already. Not sure about current plans - I think I've seen you over on SSC though right? One of that lot would know for sure!

FreudianSlippers

Muahahaha wrote: »

I'd thought I heard something about Sean Mulryan/Ballymore hoping to proceed with it, though I'm not sure if planning still exists for a hotel that tall.

Sounds like we'll know on 8 September about that commercial block and hotel development in Spencer Dock.

Muahahaha

Seems Hawkins House might fall down before it gets dragged down!

Health bosses have been forced to place decking around one of the capital's ugliest buildings amid fears that parts of the structure might come loose during winter storms.

The Department of Health said that "protective measures" had been installed at its Hawkins House offices following a survey from the Office of Public Works (OPW) in recent months.
Voted the worst building in Dublin, the 12-storey eyesore was designed by Sir Thomas Bennett and was erected in 1962.
It replaced the Theatre Royal, and was marketed as a "prestige building" when it opened.
But now there are concerns that panels erected on the exterior are in danger of falling off and causing injury to passers-by, visitors and staff.
The OPW said an outer structure had been put in place to "protect the external facade of the building".
The move comes because parts of the panels on the exterior have been falling off, and there is concern that a serious injury might arise if a larger piece fell.

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/safety-fears-for-public-as-parts-fall-off-city-offices-31601499.html

donegal.

from http://www.streetsbroadandnarrow.com/ . It has some great pics

Arthur Daley

On the 1962 (I think) reeling in the years they have a piece about the theatre royal closing and show some footage of hawkins house being built. Somewhere up on youtube

D Trent

http://www.joe.ie/movies-tv/sad-news-as-iconic-dublin-cinema-will-close-its-doors-with-a-fortnight/518463