Dublin - Building heights

Locals concerned over plans to build 299 apartments in blocks of up to 9 storeys in Glasnevin

Mary Fitzpatrick:

Let me clear, we desperately need houses… and I’m in favour of density and height

Just not here. Somewhere else.

DCC consultation on building heights in North Lotts and GCD SDZ. Deadline for submissions is 18 April 2019.

https://consultation.dublincity.ie/planning/north-lotts-and-grand-canal-dock-planning-scheme-b/?fbclid=IwAR2uS0FZ3ZpN-JiB8Fav7nSoTAMVjqowdoN55n5R-HV0s8p-Uuv_so-Dg0o

An Taisce: "Dublin’s status as a low-rise city is over"

Me: "Praise Jesus, thank you god"

An taisce can go and jump, how is Tara st the historical centre of Dublin.

cisk wrote: »

Surprised by this but it’s just been reported in The Times that An Bord Pleanala have granted permission for Johnny Ronan’s 22 story building at Tara street. An Taisce are fuming to say the least.

Paywall:

Ronan takes Dublin to new high



http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c59263bc-5899-11e9-8813-c167a1bb1937

Wow, was not expecting such good news. A victory for decency and common sense. The an Taisce crowd can afford to live where they like, they don't care if plebs have to commute from Kildare. 22 stories next to the City's busiest station is something you might see in the provincial capitals of Europe, but still, it's a start.

Does it not look absolutely awful though? Just an ugly glass box that will be viewable everywhere in the city, at least Capital Dock is far away.

We absolutely need to go up, but is plonking a 22-story building beside Trinity, Dame street etc really the way to do it? Docklands should have all been twice the height, definitely. But the problem with density is that Ranelagh and Phibsborough and anywhere that's a 20 min walk from the city centre is two-story houses and that continues on. We need to triple the height there.

Mind you, I guess I wouldn't mind at all if it looked nice so maybe I'm juts rambling

I think half the reason we end up with iffy looking buildings is because when an architect comes up with a contemporary or modern design the likes of an Taisce object and we're left with a horrible compromise. Rather than embracing change and working with modern design and existing buildings they are just a thorn in the side of progress.

South quays should be full of high rise buildings which would mean most of the sun being blocked would fall on the Liffey when people are at home in the evening.

I wonder if someone will ever dust down the plans for the 35 story hotel that was proposed for the back of the Convention Center



Of course the original proposal for the area around the Convention Center back in 98/99 was something else! I can't seem to find any of drawings online but there are several of them in Frank McDonald's "The Construction of Dublin" from 2000. The only bit that was actually built was the Convention Center (and perhaps the PWC building)

Here's a quote from RTÉ from circa 2000.

The architect who designed the Spencer Dock development in Dublin has said he does not believe it intrudes on the historic heart of the city. Kevin Roche told the Bord Pleanála hearing he did not believe the buildings were high-rise, which he said began at forty floors. He said the Spencer Dock buildings were low to medium-rise. He added he would be prepared to lower the height of the buildings if they were considered too tall for Dublin. Mr Roche told the hearing that the scheme is meant to be international in order to attract foreign business.

Ciarán Cuffe was just as much a pox in 2000 as he is today.
http://www.ciarancuffe.com/back-to-the-drawing-board-for-spencer-dock-by-ciaran-cuffe-published-in-the-irish-independent-july-2000/

hmmm wrote: »

I agree with you re the prefer the clustered approach, but unfortunately the over-the-top opposition to high rise in the city has meant that the floodgates will now be opened as a reaction. The opposition groups have only themselves to blame - a proper debate and identification of a suitable city centre site for a cluster never happened because they never allowed it to happen.

I'm all for this development and hope it leads to many more. We are destroying our countryside with fields of houses owned by people commuting into the city, our public transport system is disgraceful, and the lives of hundreds of thousands of people are worse because of the opposition to proper height and density in the city. Let's hope that we see more residential and commercial towers very soon.

I'm with you on the lack of density in Dublin being a disgrace and that tackling it must be a priority. And that's why I say "I'm not sure" about my opinion on this
planning decision.

My worry is that buildings like this could queer the pitch for future tall buildings in Dublin and thus hinder the densification of the city.

Opposition to tall buildings in Dublin was until recently a very commonly held position amoung the public. I never agreed with it but accepted that it was based on real negative experiences with tall Dublin buildings: the Ballymun towers, Liberty Hall, Hawkins house, etc.

These developments killed support for building taller in Dublin for a generation. I don't want to see the same happening again and that's why I'm a little uneasy about this building despite being a fan of tall buildings. I don't find it particularly beautiful and suspect the public will not either.

The problem with isolated tall buildings is obvious - they stand out - so every blemish and aesthetic failure screams at you. They become notorious just because they are singular.

Ideally this building should be in the Docklands, Hueston or Sandyford (none of which should have any height restrictions whatsoever). On the other hand, this section of Tara St. has been a disgrace for years and something needs to be done at this corner - and this building is certainly "something" - I just hope it doesn't provoke a new backlash against tall buildings.