Dublin Planning - Past v Present

[The Biff]

An Bord Pleanala is back in the news again with another Planning Decision Overturn.  Liberty Hall, Ireland's first "skyscraper" is to be left intact to overlook our Capital city as a monument to our historic past.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bord-pleanala-blocks-demolition-of-irelands-first-skyscraper-liberty-hall-3295772.html

So we wont be replacing this:


... with something like this:


Of course, this comes shortly after the new Mater Childrens Hospital was blocked, also for similar reasons about being too intrusive on the skyline.

I'm a bit torn how to take this.  I think the current Liberty Hall is an embarrassment.  It is not a pretty building, and I understand the interior is far from functional by current standards.

On the other hand, there is something obscene in the fact that it is owned by a Trade Union, who now want to spend millions to replace it with something bigger.

We criticize our past Planning Authorities for lashing out permissions like confetti.  Now a refusal of permission is not so clear cut.  Help me out of my torment here folks.

[magpie seanie]

Don't get me started on an Bord Pleanála.

[Bingo]

Its an ugly building and needs replacing but the unions would have some neck on them building a bigger office on the site when they spend having the time quotoing about the harm the developers have done to the ordinary working man and the millions they have wasted. Why don't they just buy some of the office space available down the quays from them, would be cheap and nearly ready to occoupy.

[Denn Forever]

Is it true that Liberty Hall and Bus Aras are supposed to reflect each other is some way?  Note the scolloped roof on Liberty Hall and that on Bus Aras. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Busaras-2.jpg#file

[Ulick]

They've come a long way. Much perferred this:

[screenexile]

If they're doing anything then get rid of the Central Bank!! I don't even know what it looks like. Horrible horrible piece of architecture!!

[Dinny Breen]

The old Motor Tax Office in Dublin is a hideous looking building

[Hardy]

If they're doing anything then get rid of the Central Bank!! I don't even know what it looks like. Horrible horrible piece of architecture!!

I'm visually "illiterate" and don't know the aesthetic rules of architecture, but I think the Central Bank is a fine looking example of modern architecture. But then, I suppose I would.

[trileacman]

If they're doing anything then get rid of the Central Bank!! I don't even know what it looks like. Horrible horrible piece of architecture!!

I'm visually "illiterate" and don't know the aesthetic rules of architecture, but I think the Central Bank is a fine looking example of modern architecture. But then, I suppose I would.

It's an okay building in the wrong place, you've Trinity, Grafton, then up to Dulbin castle and BOI on the corner. Temple Bar is in behind and then this concrete monstrosity in the middle.

[Ulick]

Don't know much about architecture myself but my two favorite buildings in Belfast are both currently derelict and in danger of being destroyed.

[Eamonnca1]

Is that art deco Bank of Ireland building not listed? If not then it should be. There's some great pieces of art deco and Edwardian stuff around Belfast.

[thejuice]

There's a lot to be said for maintaining the view down to the customs house and not to have anything domineering next to it.

Modern architecture while interesting when you understand the meaning behind them, like grand canal theatre, but a lot of it leaves me cold and seems culturally baseless. Skyscrapers like that pictured above is quite soulless and brings nothing to the cities skyline.

Do the unions really need something that big?

Also is the massive Chinese exhibition centre outside Athlone still going ahead? That looked like a monstrosity.

[Eamonnca1]

If I had my way the Custom House would be home of the Dail. Leinster House is an awful grey slab that looks like a Christian Brothers school stuck behind a car park.

[trileacman]

If I had my way the Custom House would be home of the Dail. Leinster House is an awful grey slab that looks like a Christian Brothers school stuck behind a car park.

But, like a cork woman, it looks good from behind.

[The Biff]

If they're doing anything then get rid of the Central Bank!! I don't even know what it looks like. Horrible horrible piece of architecture!!

I quite like the Central Bank in its own right, considering it a decent piece of modern architecture when compared to our general poor standard.  It looked worse when they had been stopped from capping it off properly up on the roof.  I dont think it really over-dominates its surrounding area too much, and the plaza area is a welcome feature that Dublin does not have enough of.

However, Liberty Hall is way too dominant for its area, especially with the iconic Custom House beside it.  LH should probably never have been built there in its current form in the first place.  Is the Custom House considered a tourist attraction at all?  Is the interior open to visitors?