Put people first by design, says civic leader

ARCHITECTS must strive for higher standards and place people at the centre of their work, a leading civic figure said at the weekend.

John X Miller, the head of Cork’s Civic Trust, a non-profit voluntary organisation dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the city’s architectural heritage and environment, made the comments at the launch of his new book Emerging Cork on Friday night.

It captures in photographs the cutting-edge architecture which has changed the face of the city.

It highlights the impact of many of the newest buildings — some up to seven years old but others which have yet to be opened.

It features striking images from some of the city’s top professional photographers, including Janice O’Connell, Kevin Dwyer and Tony O’Connell, who also acted as photographic adviser.

It also includes artists’ impressions of projects under construction.

The images focus mainly on the outside of the buildings, highlighting their architectural impact. However, interior elements, which Mr Miller said were crucial in many ways to achieving work-life balance, have also been included.

He described the book as an extended snapshot and record of the swift pace of unprecedented development in the city in recent years

“It dawned on me that no one seemed to be keeping a visual record of how these changes were impacting on the city and its existing built heritage,” he said.

“Even as we speak, the city is still developing and changing, a fact which makes keeping a visual record of these changes all the more important.”

Mr Miller said the rising architectural standards must rise further.

“All involved in creating a vibrant living city need to aspire to the highest of standards, be it in planning, construction and aesthetics. Most of all, people and their needs must be placed at the very centre of this creative process,” he said.

The book, funded by the Civic Trust and Cork City Council, includes a foreword by Irish Examiner property editor, Tommy Barker. The book was launched by Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin.

It is on sale at Cork Vision Centre, North Main Street, and bookstores, at €25. A companion DVD is being made for pupil education.

Irish Examiner

Here's one €350,000 property you'll need to get on the ladder to acquire

A RENOWNED architect has put an unusual site on the market in a leafy Dublin surburb with an asking price of €350,000.

The catch?

The "site" is in fact a tract of air between two existing houses, which overhangs the current "owner's" access road.

"This is an unusual opportunity to acquire a very well located property which has potential subject to planning permission to enhance and further develop," the property's brochure boasts, adding that the opportunity "should be of interest to a shrewd investor/developer with the resources to undergo the planning process and create an innovative and cutting edge property of striking appeal."

"It's a very competitive price," insisted Tom O'Higgins of Remax's Dun Laoghaire branch, who is selling the property on behalf of architect Alfred E Jones. "It's an excellent location, you'd get €700,000 if the site already had planning," he added.

The private access road to the Summerhill Court development was acquired by the architect in December 2005 for €20,000.

Mr O'Higgins said he had already had "more than 60" calls about the site in Sandycove in south Dublin. "There have been a number of offers conditional on planning permission, but that's not the way we're selling it," he said.

Mr Jones said that a buyer would be able to get 1,500 sq ft of accommodation on the site.

Mr Jones himself is an architect of considerable expertise, so would he not seize the "opportunity" himself? "I put it on the market because I would like to see what the market would hold at this stage," he said.

"Developing it myself, that's not where I'm going with it at the moment."

The site's value to any prospective owner hinges entirely on the success of planning permission. Planning permission for "unusual" residential developments in south Dublin is notoriously hard to come by these days, and Mr Jones himself fell foul of local opposition last year when he tried to change the use of his own premises on the same terrace.

Laura Noonan
Irish Independent

Follow up:

IN APRIL 2006, Alfred E Jones secured planning permission for a "change of use" and extension to a property he owns to the rear of 20 Summerhill Road.

The permission allowed Mr Jones to change the property's use from a studio to a residential unit, and to add an extension.

However, his joy was shortlived when several neighbours lodged complaints with An Bord Pleanála later that month.

The neighbours complained that the development would "seriously injure the amenities of the area" and "would depreciate the value of residential property at Summerhill Court [behind Summerhill Road]".

In August an Bord Pleanála overturned the local authority's decision noting that "the Board considered that the proposed development would constitute disorderly backland development".

However, Mr Jones remains optimistic. "I wouldn't say it didn't work out," he said. "It's not never over. You just keep at them."

Irish Independent

RIAI launches new policy on Universal access to Buildings

The RIAI calls on building owners and developers to engage with architects in developing buildings which meet the highest European and international standards in accessibility

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has launched a new policy on ensuring that everybody – no matter what their level of ability or disability is – can access buildings. The launch took place on 3 December 2006 to mark International Day for People with Disabilities.