Hawkins House to be demolished

Muahahaha · 10-08-2015 03:10PM #1

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 · 10-08-2015 05:38PM

So will Oisín House across the road.

power pants · 10-08-2015 05:42PM

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

would love to see the apartment

January · 10-08-2015 06:04PM

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 · 10-08-2015 07:30PM

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 · 10-08-2015 07:32PM

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

fleet_admiral · 10-08-2015 08:01PM

Now they should rebuild the Theater Royale

Teyla Emmagan · 10-08-2015 08:53PM

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

FloatingVoter · 10-08-2015 09:50PM

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 · 10-08-2015 09:56PM

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 · 10-08-2015 10:12PM

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 · 10-08-2015 10:17PM

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

newacc2015 · 10-08-2015 10:23PM

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 · 10-08-2015 10:54PM

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 · 11-08-2015 08:07AM

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 · 11-08-2015 08:12AM

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 · 11-08-2015 08:16AM

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

LXFlyer · 11-08-2015 12:58PM

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 · 11-08-2015 07:57PM

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 · 11-08-2015 10:20PM

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

FloatingVoter · 11-08-2015 11:09PM

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 · 11-08-2015 11:17PM

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 · 11-08-2015 11:20PM

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 · 11-08-2015 11:22PM

Teach Haicin, Sraid Haicin, BAC a do. &#55357;&#56866;

fleet_admiral · 11-08-2015 11:23PM

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 · 11-08-2015 11:23PM

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 · 11-08-2015 11:59PM

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 · 12-08-2015 12:27AM

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 · 12-08-2015 08:36AM

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 · 12-08-2015 03:58PM

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 · 12-08-2015 04:30PM

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.

Hawkins House to be demolished

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