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Albert Quay - New Development

Michael..

Would be great for the city to have an extra 2000 people using local shops, restaurants etc. Hopefully it comes to fruition.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/50m-office-block-could-be-biggest-built-in-cork-253226.html

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Michael..

vince wrote: »

So is it the 5 story narrow building or the 8 story wider building we're getting

It's actually nine stories.

This is the one http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/boost-for-cork-as-50m-albert-quay-development-gets-go-ahead-259973.html

Michael..

who_me wrote: »

Any new development in the city IS really positive and appreciated. It may even help kick-start the docklands redevelopment. (It'd be great too if they could clean up the quayside on that side of the river, add a cafe or stalls etc.) It's just a pity that it often seems to come with a downside, and obviously when it's jobs vs anything, the jobs argument inevitably wins.

The building doesn't look bad from the front, but from other elevations it's just another big, bland box. Probably with air-conditioning units on the roof to make it uglier still. That's the problem I have with a lot of the newer buildings. They're just big cuboids with no features. Bland glass 'n' cladding surfaces with no details to catch the eye. No arches or recessed windows to add some shadow or shape. No gabled roofs or dormer windows to add something to the city's roofscape. Just big (usually, too big) bland boxes.

I've been following the developments and proposals on an architecture forum for some time, and some of the proposals for Cork were crazy. Building on bridges. Building in the middle of the river! Building a tall tower on the Custom House Quay (don't know how they'd squeeze that in). Building apartment blocks with fire-escapes for stairwells (to maximise the apartments they could fit into a tiny site). I think we have to have some kind of reign on what's built and isn't.

Modern architecture is pretty lame compared to previous generations. For instance, look at the courthouse. It's a beautiful building that looks as good today as it did when it was built. Unfortunately, a lot of buildings built in the past 10, 15 years are already looking shabby.

With regards to the Albert Quay development, it isn't the worst design in the world. It's no courthouse, but if it entices 2,000 extra people into the city then I'm all for it.

I'd rather a building be covered in glass than that horrible plastic gladding that the Elysian is destroyed in - truly awful choice of material.

vince

So is it the 5 story narrow building or the 8 story wider building we're getting

Lambofdave

Is there not a hotel to be part of the Sullivan Quay development?

who_me

Any new development in the city IS really positive and appreciated. It may even help kick-start the docklands redevelopment. (It'd be great too if they could clean up the quayside on that side of the river, add a cafe or stalls etc.) It's just a pity that it often seems to come with a downside, and obviously when it's jobs vs anything, the jobs argument inevitably wins.

The building doesn't look bad from the front, but from other elevations it's just another big, bland box. Probably with air-conditioning units on the roof to make it uglier still. That's the problem I have with a lot of the newer buildings. They're just big cuboids with no features. Bland glass 'n' cladding surfaces with no details to catch the eye. No arches or recessed windows to add some shadow or shape. No gabled roofs or dormer windows to add something to the city's roofscape. Just big (usually, too big) bland boxes.

I've been following the developments and proposals on an architecture forum for some time, and some of the proposals for Cork were crazy. Building on bridges. Building in the middle of the river! Building a tall tower on the Custom House Quay (don't know how they'd squeeze that in). Building apartment blocks with fire-escapes for stairwells (to maximise the apartments they could fit into a tiny site). I think we have to have some kind of reign on what's built and isn't.

calnand

Makes for a nice photo though.

A22648F5E2184AFC931ED096808D2F1B-0000353802-0003512347-00800L-B5A3E9A916B54C02A10B7B33B4D73464.jpg

whisky_galore

zetalambda wrote: »

Looks terrible alright.

The sheds to the lhs are empty afaik, the garish signage makes the others more crappy looking than they actually are. The sheds by the Custom House across the way look fit to fall down.

whisky_galore

zetalambda wrote: »

The IDA are saying that a lack of suitable office space in Cork, Dublin & Galway city centers is proving a barrier to foreign companies who want set up here. In a BBC radio interview a few weeks ago, Owen O' Callaghan said he is to resume development of new office space in the city center shortly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qflj0

What do you think of this office development planned for the old tax office? Certainly looks better than the Albert Quay project.

Looks like an overgrown cd rack tbh. Won't improve with age.

Michael..

BUNK1982 wrote: »

Whatever about the architectural merits of this project - development in the city centre has to be welcomed.

Absolutely !!

Whatever people may thing about the design of contemporary office blocks, Cork City badly needs this.

We need to get people back into the city or else it'll die a death. There has been too much emphasis on out of city development.

This will hopefully bring an extra 2000 people into the city every day. Good for business and good for the city.

BUNK1982

Whatever about the architectural merits of this project - development in the city centre has to be welcomed.

phatmanwc

Oafley Jones wrote: »

It's certainly more grey. Framing my ass. Ask yourself does that picture look better with or without that building?

If this were the only view to be considered, you might have a point, since you can't actually see the existing 'sheds' from this location.

Either way, the development will be far more obvious, and far more frequently seen from the Lapp's Quay area, and like I stated, while not perfect, I think it will be a vast improvement on what's there. Just my opinion.

I honestly can't see the architectural or aesthetic value of the existing buildings, which honestly look appalling to me. Maybe if they were in another location, there might be merit in preserving or renovating them (for instance, I would much rather see the bonded warehouses on Custom House Quay retained and renovated), but it's eyesores like these in prime locations that tend to lend Cork a somewhat shabby appearance/feeling at times.

I just think the opportunity to develop this site, and potentially bolster the local economy, shouldn't be missed at this time; Cork didn't benefit from any significant development in the City Centre/Docklands during the boom times, despite all the plans, so I'm not going to be one to be overly picky if a developer is confident enough to proceed with a development of this scale...:D

the beer revolu

zetalambda wrote: »

Looks terrible alright.

I really like those buildings. Yes, they are in a sad state of decoration but I like the form of them. Those shallow arched roofs (bowstring trussed) are very much part of older Cork architecture and part of the character of Cork. We lost a lovely one (in good repair and condition) in Emmet place a few years ago when the Johnson and Perrot building was demolished to make way for the incredibly soulless and bland "opera Lane" outdoor shopping mall.

I've no particular beef with what is going in there and if Rhys' post is accurate I lament the loss of the pitched roof sheds but am glad that the "god awful tin can sheds" will remain - hopefully to be refurbished and given a proper use.

Rhys Essien

Are these the final plans?.If so,it is downsized to 5 storey and that god awful tin can shed is being left there.

http://www.bamcontractors.ie/public/userfiles/Files/AlbertQuayBrochure.pdf

Oafley Jones

phatmanwc wrote: »

The above photomontage, as far as I'm aware, is for a previous incarnation; the approved design is shown below:

Again, far from perfect, but the harder lines work better on the updated design, and are more sympathetic to the City Quarter development across the way, providing better 'framing' of the view downstream (IMO).

It's certainly more grey. Framing my ass. Ask yourself does that picture look better with or without that building?

phatmanwc

The above photomontage, as far as I'm aware, is for a previous incarnation; the approved design is shown below:

Again, far from perfect, but the harder lines work better on the updated design, and are more sympathetic to the City Quarter development across the way, providing better 'framing' of the view downstream (IMO).

Oafley Jones

Have to check out the o'callaghan interview, heard it went very poorly. Isn't lavitts quay his as well. Wonder will they get a tenant that will actually pay rent when apple vacate.

Oafley Jones

zetalambda wrote: »

The IDA are saying that a lack of suitable office space in Cork, Dublin & Galway city centers is proving a barrier to foreign companies who want set up here. In a BBC radio interview a few weeks ago, Owen O' Callaghan said he is to resume development of new office space in the city center shortly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qflj0

The IDA have some neck to suggest that. I've no idea about Galway and Dublin, but we're awash with it. Perhaps, the IDA meant that there's a lack of suitable office space with accompanying grants - stemmed from redevelopment of certain zones etc - that would make it attractive (in the short term) to prospective clients.

zetalambda wrote: »

do you think of this office development planned for the old tax office? Certainly looks better than the Albert Quay project.

Going by that alone, it seems much better. It's seems smaller than what's there and the building's mass is broken up by the design. Again, if there isn't a business case for it, it shouldn't go ahead.

zetalambda

The IDA are saying that a lack of suitable office space in Cork, Dublin & Galway city centers is proving a barrier to foreign companies who want set up here. In a BBC radio interview a few weeks ago, Owen O' Callaghan said he is to resume development of new office space in the city center shortly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qflj0

What do you think of this office development planned for the old tax office? Certainly looks better than the Albert Quay project.

Oafley Jones

zetalambda wrote: »

So what's your suggestion for the site?

Looks even worse from this view:

That looks brutal alright. Given that perspective that's actually worse than what's there now. Still, there has to be a business case for what ever goes there. At the moment its...

1) Office Space
2) ?????????
3) Jobs.

While ignoring that we've a glut of number 1.

zetalambda

So what's your suggestion for the site?

Looks even worse from this view:

Oafley Jones

Whats there is terrible, but the city doesn't need more ugly office space - particularly in that area. Interesting the reaction here and the type of posters moved to greet this development. Astroturfing?

phatmanwc

Great news! Looking forward to following the progress, should be a great addition to the river frontage; speaking of which, does anyone know if there is any condition relating to upgrading of the quayside? This is a particularly grotty section of Albert Quay, and it would be great if this opportunity were used to smarten it up; some tasteful paving and bollards etc. perhaps, doesn't have to be a boardwalk!

Anyway, the bigger picture is fantastic, despite slight concerns about the height, and the aesthetics aren't going to set the world on fire either. The way things are though, I'll most certainly settle for this!

Mushy

They've been doing some form of work in one of those buildings that are making way for this. I assume its part of the work for this?

ofcork

Those buildings were all part of the old railway site,all new buildings look the same now though just all glass.

zetalambda

CHealy wrote: »

Fantastic news, whats there at the moment is one of the citys biggest eyesores.

Looks terrible alright.

Skylined.94

Great news alright... that area was really becoming a bit of an eye sore and was ideally placed for new development being adjacent to the City Hall, nearby hotels and Elysian complex. Hopefully its the start of things to come which will culminate in the Docklands development *fingers crossed*

CHealy

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Good news,this job is to start in the next few weeks.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/boost-for-cork-as-50m-albert-quay-development-gets-go-ahead-259973.html

Fantastic news, whats there at the moment is one of the citys biggest eyesores.

Rhys Essien

Good news,this job is to start in the next few weeks.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/boost-for-cork-as-50m-albert-quay-development-gets-go-ahead-259973.html

Pro Hoc Vice

ofcork wrote: »

Is there parking available in the elysian for those who want to shop at the aldi when it opens?

There are a few hundred spaces in the building.

ofcork

Is there parking available in the elysian for those who want to shop at the aldi when it opens?