Closing date for submissions to the Draft City Development Plan is 4.30pm on Friday, 12th March, 2010. Please contact bps ASAP if you wish to make a submission.
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label dublin city planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dublin city planning. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
RTÉ request to have 31-acre site rezoned seen as valuation exercise
RTÉ’S REQUEST to Dublin City Council to have its 31-acre site in Donnybrook rezoned for mixed-use development, including offices, retail and residential, is being seen as a long-term land valuation exercise.
The fact that its two-page submission on the draft city development plan was signed by chief financial controller Conor Hayes suggests the move is not unrelated to the State broadcaster’s financial crisis, which could see it losing €68 million this year.
The letter from Mr Hayes to the city council’s planning department notes that RTÉ began operating from Montrose – the name of the original Victorian house on the Donnybrook site – in 1960 and, since then, it has “become synonymous with Irish broadcasting”.
It points out that roughly half of the site is occupied by a combination of studio production facilities and ancillary office accommodation. These include the main television and radio buildings, all of which were designed by leading architects Scott Tallon Walker (STW).
The remainder of the site, as the letter notes, is “open space/ parkland”, although it does not mention that much of this is used for car parking. The landscaped parkland setting of the RTÉ buildings was also a critical element of STW’s masterplan.
Mr Hayes notes that Donnybrook itself has “undergone very substantial change during the past 50 years and can no longer realistically be characterised as “leafy suburbia”, as it might have been in 1960 but rather part of an extended city centre.
“The recently developed Donnybrook rugby stadium, the expansion of St Vincent’s University Hospital, the ongoing revitalisation of Donnybrook village, the modernisation of the nearby RDS and the expansion of UCD . . . have all combined to contribute to its recharacterisation.”
The letter refers to the city council planning department’s paper in relation to the draft development plan, saying it “very sensibly acknowledges that a ‘sustainable Dublin’ is one that involves developing a more compact city with an intensification of mixed-use development . . .
“In tandem with this view, we have formed the opinion that in the long term, the appropriate development of the Montrose site has the potential to be harnessed to contribute to the creation of a more compact urban environment,” as Mr Hayes explains RTÉ’s latest position.
“Our understanding of current best practice relating to sustainable development, including the need for the wide use of resources and the efficient management of the urban ecosystem, suggests that ‘brownfield’ sites like Montrose can offer a significant opportunity to enhance sustainable urban living.”
The term “brownfield” is usually applied, however, to redundant industrial land, such as the former Dublin Gas sites in Docklands. It is not used to describe sites that are in use or extensively landscaped as parkland. In the case of Montrose, this includes many mature specimen trees.
Mr Hayes’s letter says the current zoning of the RTÉ campus for “institutional and community use” (Z15) would not allow for its potential to be realised. It is seeking to have the site rezoned to “consolidate and facilitate the development of inner suburban sites for mixed-use development” (Z10).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The fact that its two-page submission on the draft city development plan was signed by chief financial controller Conor Hayes suggests the move is not unrelated to the State broadcaster’s financial crisis, which could see it losing €68 million this year.
The letter from Mr Hayes to the city council’s planning department notes that RTÉ began operating from Montrose – the name of the original Victorian house on the Donnybrook site – in 1960 and, since then, it has “become synonymous with Irish broadcasting”.
It points out that roughly half of the site is occupied by a combination of studio production facilities and ancillary office accommodation. These include the main television and radio buildings, all of which were designed by leading architects Scott Tallon Walker (STW).
The remainder of the site, as the letter notes, is “open space/ parkland”, although it does not mention that much of this is used for car parking. The landscaped parkland setting of the RTÉ buildings was also a critical element of STW’s masterplan.
Mr Hayes notes that Donnybrook itself has “undergone very substantial change during the past 50 years and can no longer realistically be characterised as “leafy suburbia”, as it might have been in 1960 but rather part of an extended city centre.
“The recently developed Donnybrook rugby stadium, the expansion of St Vincent’s University Hospital, the ongoing revitalisation of Donnybrook village, the modernisation of the nearby RDS and the expansion of UCD . . . have all combined to contribute to its recharacterisation.”
The letter refers to the city council planning department’s paper in relation to the draft development plan, saying it “very sensibly acknowledges that a ‘sustainable Dublin’ is one that involves developing a more compact city with an intensification of mixed-use development . . .
“In tandem with this view, we have formed the opinion that in the long term, the appropriate development of the Montrose site has the potential to be harnessed to contribute to the creation of a more compact urban environment,” as Mr Hayes explains RTÉ’s latest position.
“Our understanding of current best practice relating to sustainable development, including the need for the wide use of resources and the efficient management of the urban ecosystem, suggests that ‘brownfield’ sites like Montrose can offer a significant opportunity to enhance sustainable urban living.”
The term “brownfield” is usually applied, however, to redundant industrial land, such as the former Dublin Gas sites in Docklands. It is not used to describe sites that are in use or extensively landscaped as parkland. In the case of Montrose, this includes many mature specimen trees.
Mr Hayes’s letter says the current zoning of the RTÉ campus for “institutional and community use” (Z15) would not allow for its potential to be realised. It is seeking to have the site rezoned to “consolidate and facilitate the development of inner suburban sites for mixed-use development” (Z10).
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
Welcome to the 'no-star' hotel
IMPRESARIO property developer Harry Crosbie has got the green light for Dublin's first 'rocker' hotel at the rear of his Vicar Street entertainment venue.
With 194 bedrooms, it will be classified as a 'no-star' hotel and offer very basic accommodation.
The hotel, which will be built off Thomas Street in Dublin 8, to the rear of the Vicar Street venue, is aimed at people staying in the city overnight to attend events in Vicar Street, The O2 or Harry Crosbie's other entertainment venue, The Libeskind Theatre, currently being developed in Grand Canal Harbour.
Combined packages will be offered to attract guests.
The hotel will not seek a star rating from Bord Failte because it will be "too basic to have any stars", says Crosbie.
On arrival a freight lift will bring patrons to the residents' bar and check-in area in a "big glass box" on the seventh floor on top of the hotel, which will look out over the city.
But in response to submissions from local residents concerned about possible noise, Bord Pleanala has insisted the doors to the roof terrace from the restaurant and cafe bar "shall be kept in a permanently closed position" and only used for getting into and out of the area. No chairs or tables will be allowed on this terrace without "a prior grant of permission", the board adds.
Monastic
Mr Crosbie described the bedrooms as being like "monastic cells to sleep in with concrete walls and a very good bed with a duvet".
But a spokesman yesterday said the rooms will be fully equipped with wifi and flat screen TV as well as having ensuite bathrooms.
At one stage the room rate was expected to be around €50 per night, but that was before over-supply of bedrooms saw more competitive pricing.
Mr Crosbie has not decided when he will proceed with the development but a spokesman said that it is hoped to begin negotiations firstly with possible Irish or international hotel operators.
Designed by Grafton Architects, the rooms will feature polished concrete walls which will be "a homage" to famous designers Corbusier and Eileen Gray, said the spokesman. The most lavish aspect of the development will be plans to spend €1m on art works by young Irish artists for the bedrooms.
Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
With 194 bedrooms, it will be classified as a 'no-star' hotel and offer very basic accommodation.
The hotel, which will be built off Thomas Street in Dublin 8, to the rear of the Vicar Street venue, is aimed at people staying in the city overnight to attend events in Vicar Street, The O2 or Harry Crosbie's other entertainment venue, The Libeskind Theatre, currently being developed in Grand Canal Harbour.
Combined packages will be offered to attract guests.
The hotel will not seek a star rating from Bord Failte because it will be "too basic to have any stars", says Crosbie.
On arrival a freight lift will bring patrons to the residents' bar and check-in area in a "big glass box" on the seventh floor on top of the hotel, which will look out over the city.
But in response to submissions from local residents concerned about possible noise, Bord Pleanala has insisted the doors to the roof terrace from the restaurant and cafe bar "shall be kept in a permanently closed position" and only used for getting into and out of the area. No chairs or tables will be allowed on this terrace without "a prior grant of permission", the board adds.
Monastic
Mr Crosbie described the bedrooms as being like "monastic cells to sleep in with concrete walls and a very good bed with a duvet".
But a spokesman yesterday said the rooms will be fully equipped with wifi and flat screen TV as well as having ensuite bathrooms.
At one stage the room rate was expected to be around €50 per night, but that was before over-supply of bedrooms saw more competitive pricing.
Mr Crosbie has not decided when he will proceed with the development but a spokesman said that it is hoped to begin negotiations firstly with possible Irish or international hotel operators.
Designed by Grafton Architects, the rooms will feature polished concrete walls which will be "a homage" to famous designers Corbusier and Eileen Gray, said the spokesman. The most lavish aspect of the development will be plans to spend €1m on art works by young Irish artists for the bedrooms.
Donal Buckley
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Private car use in Dublin city rises
The number of cars in Dublin city rose last year, according to figures from Dublin City Council.
The Canal Cordon Count, which monitors the number of vehicles crossing into the cordon formed by the Royal and Grand canals around the city during peak morning hours, found more private cars came into the city centre in 2008 than the previous year, representing rise of close to 0.4 per cent.
This is despite an increase in the number of buses during the same period.
However, over a 10-year period, the number of cars coming into the city fell. In 1998, more than 71,000 cars crossed the canal cordon, compared to almost 63,976 in 2008.
Cycling was also on the rise, with 8 per cent more people choosing to cycle in the peak morning hours in 2008 than a year earlier. This follows general upward trends in recent years, with a 30 per cent increase over the five year period 2003 to 2008, and a 34 per cent rise over the 10 years to 2008.
Dublin City Council cycling officer, Ciarán Fallon, welcomed the rise in the number of those cycling in the city during morning peak hours.
"We have a lot of work to do to improve cycling conditions in the city but these numbers are encouraging," he said.
"Over a third of commuting journeys into the canal cordon area are less than 5km long. Most people can cover this distance by bike in about 20 minutes. There is great potential to grow walking and cycling numbers in Dublin City in the coming years."
Mr Fallon said the increase in people cycling could be attributed to the reduction in the number of heavy goods vehicles in the city centre.
Since the introduction of a ban on some heavy goods vehicles in the city centre, the number of commercial vehicles crossing the canal cordon during morning peak hours has fallen 54 per cent between 2003 and 2008.
The number of pedestrians crossing into the city centre fell 1 per cent on last year's figures.
Between 2003 and 2008, Dublin Bus accounted for a daily average of 80 per cent of the buses that crossed into the city centre. During that time, the number of buses from the company rose 17 per cent, while independently operated services rose 13 per cent.
In the 12-month period to 2008, 11 per cent more Dublin Bus vehicles were recorded in the city centre, but independent services fell 17 per cent.
Fine Gael Seanad transport spokesman Senator Paschal Donohoe said the Government’s attempts at encouraging public transport use had "clearly failed".
"The city is now grinding to a halt, with further chaos likely if the bus strike goes ahead. Traffic congestion is
strangling the city’s commercial and social life. Congestion is costing Dublin’s businesses at least €650 million a year," he said.
“We need simple and effective steps to get the city moving again in the short term, especially if work on Metro North gets underway."
He called for new bus routes to be opened up in areas with growing populations, the extension of the city's co-ordinated traffic light system and the roll-out of the live information system for Dublin Bus.
He also suggested that the new Dublin transport authority should be fast-tracked to allow for centralised planning and traffic management.
“As a city already suffering from serious congestion, Dublin simply cannot afford for further rises in car use," Mr Donohoe said.
Green Party transport spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said the increase in cyclist numbers was welcome, but said radical reform of bus services and traffic management in Dublin city was needed.
"The next step must be the creation of a network of safe cycle routes all across the city. Many people are afraid to cycle in traffic because of the fear of being struck by a lorry or car. I also want the gardaí to apply more
resources to enforcing the speed limits, as speeding cars are a danger to vulnerable road users," he said.
Mr Cuffe called on Fine Gael to support the proposals for the provision of a bus gate at College Green
Dublin city councillors are due to vote on the plan, will create a public-transport-only route from Dame Street across College Green to Westmoreland Street, with restrictions for traffic coming from D’Olier Street around College Green and into Dame Street.
"Fine Gael cannot call for improvements in public transport while their own councillors oppose the bus gate proposal," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
The Canal Cordon Count, which monitors the number of vehicles crossing into the cordon formed by the Royal and Grand canals around the city during peak morning hours, found more private cars came into the city centre in 2008 than the previous year, representing rise of close to 0.4 per cent.
This is despite an increase in the number of buses during the same period.
However, over a 10-year period, the number of cars coming into the city fell. In 1998, more than 71,000 cars crossed the canal cordon, compared to almost 63,976 in 2008.
Cycling was also on the rise, with 8 per cent more people choosing to cycle in the peak morning hours in 2008 than a year earlier. This follows general upward trends in recent years, with a 30 per cent increase over the five year period 2003 to 2008, and a 34 per cent rise over the 10 years to 2008.
Dublin City Council cycling officer, Ciarán Fallon, welcomed the rise in the number of those cycling in the city during morning peak hours.
"We have a lot of work to do to improve cycling conditions in the city but these numbers are encouraging," he said.
"Over a third of commuting journeys into the canal cordon area are less than 5km long. Most people can cover this distance by bike in about 20 minutes. There is great potential to grow walking and cycling numbers in Dublin City in the coming years."
Mr Fallon said the increase in people cycling could be attributed to the reduction in the number of heavy goods vehicles in the city centre.
Since the introduction of a ban on some heavy goods vehicles in the city centre, the number of commercial vehicles crossing the canal cordon during morning peak hours has fallen 54 per cent between 2003 and 2008.
The number of pedestrians crossing into the city centre fell 1 per cent on last year's figures.
Between 2003 and 2008, Dublin Bus accounted for a daily average of 80 per cent of the buses that crossed into the city centre. During that time, the number of buses from the company rose 17 per cent, while independently operated services rose 13 per cent.
In the 12-month period to 2008, 11 per cent more Dublin Bus vehicles were recorded in the city centre, but independent services fell 17 per cent.
Fine Gael Seanad transport spokesman Senator Paschal Donohoe said the Government’s attempts at encouraging public transport use had "clearly failed".
"The city is now grinding to a halt, with further chaos likely if the bus strike goes ahead. Traffic congestion is
strangling the city’s commercial and social life. Congestion is costing Dublin’s businesses at least €650 million a year," he said.
“We need simple and effective steps to get the city moving again in the short term, especially if work on Metro North gets underway."
He called for new bus routes to be opened up in areas with growing populations, the extension of the city's co-ordinated traffic light system and the roll-out of the live information system for Dublin Bus.
He also suggested that the new Dublin transport authority should be fast-tracked to allow for centralised planning and traffic management.
“As a city already suffering from serious congestion, Dublin simply cannot afford for further rises in car use," Mr Donohoe said.
Green Party transport spokesman Ciarán Cuffe said the increase in cyclist numbers was welcome, but said radical reform of bus services and traffic management in Dublin city was needed.
"The next step must be the creation of a network of safe cycle routes all across the city. Many people are afraid to cycle in traffic because of the fear of being struck by a lorry or car. I also want the gardaí to apply more
resources to enforcing the speed limits, as speeding cars are a danger to vulnerable road users," he said.
Mr Cuffe called on Fine Gael to support the proposals for the provision of a bus gate at College Green
Dublin city councillors are due to vote on the plan, will create a public-transport-only route from Dame Street across College Green to Westmoreland Street, with restrictions for traffic coming from D’Olier Street around College Green and into Dame Street.
"Fine Gael cannot call for improvements in public transport while their own councillors oppose the bus gate proposal," he said.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Council is sued in €40m building row
DEVELOPER Bernard McNamara has claimed that Dublin city councillors were guilty of negligence when they decided to protect a number of early 19th century properties, which effectively halted his €40m development at Merrion Road in Dublin.
In a separate unrelated case, Mr McNamara is facing legal proceedings to compel him to pay €7.5m to five businessmen for their shareholdings in property company Novorstan Ltd.
It is claimed that Novorstan Ltd, with offices at Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2, was formed in 2004 to acquire properties within a site adjacent to Grafton Street. It aimed to carry out a major commercial development on the site.
Mr McNamara is being sued by the other five shareholders arising from an option deed of September 2004. They claim the minimum amount due to them under the deed is €7.5m.
The shareholders were: Mr McNamara, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4; Gary Smith, Hazelhatch, Newcastle, Co Dublin; Ivor Dougan, Booterstown, Co Dublin; Paschal Taggart, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; Terry Cooney, a tax consultant of Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; and Shane Taggart, a banker with an address at Brompton Road, London.
It is claimed €3.17m is due to Mr Smith with the same amount due to Mr Dougan. Paschal Taggart claims to be owed €85,000 while Terry Cooney and Shane Taggart each claim to be owed €384,750.
That case was adjourned to next Friday for mention.
Meanwhile, in his case against the city council, Mr McNamara and his company Radora Developments Ltd say councillors made an "unjustifiable" decision to list properties at 207-223 Merrion Road as protected structures.
The judge adjourned the case to November 17.
Tim Healy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
In a separate unrelated case, Mr McNamara is facing legal proceedings to compel him to pay €7.5m to five businessmen for their shareholdings in property company Novorstan Ltd.
It is claimed that Novorstan Ltd, with offices at Clanwilliam Court, Dublin 2, was formed in 2004 to acquire properties within a site adjacent to Grafton Street. It aimed to carry out a major commercial development on the site.
Mr McNamara is being sued by the other five shareholders arising from an option deed of September 2004. They claim the minimum amount due to them under the deed is €7.5m.
The shareholders were: Mr McNamara, Ailesbury Road, Dublin 4; Gary Smith, Hazelhatch, Newcastle, Co Dublin; Ivor Dougan, Booterstown, Co Dublin; Paschal Taggart, Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; Terry Cooney, a tax consultant of Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin; and Shane Taggart, a banker with an address at Brompton Road, London.
It is claimed €3.17m is due to Mr Smith with the same amount due to Mr Dougan. Paschal Taggart claims to be owed €85,000 while Terry Cooney and Shane Taggart each claim to be owed €384,750.
That case was adjourned to next Friday for mention.
Meanwhile, in his case against the city council, Mr McNamara and his company Radora Developments Ltd say councillors made an "unjustifiable" decision to list properties at 207-223 Merrion Road as protected structures.
The judge adjourned the case to November 17.
Tim Healy
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 11 September 2008
Aungier Street Planning
Fanagan Funeral Directors has been granted planning permission by Dublin City Council to build a hotel to the rear of their premises at 19-22 Aungier Street, Glovers Court and Bow Lane, Dublin 2.
This will involve demolishing a warehouse on the site used as a garage for hearses and limousines. A nine-storey hotel is to be built with 232 en suite bedrooms. There will be two basement levels, one used by Fanagans to park their fleet.
Meanwhile a plan by Holbien Developments for a 290-bed eight-storey hotel at Leeson Lane and Quinn's Lane has been opposed by TN Kelly, who owns an apartment in St Stephen's Green because of "gross impairment of Leeson Street".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
This will involve demolishing a warehouse on the site used as a garage for hearses and limousines. A nine-storey hotel is to be built with 232 en suite bedrooms. There will be two basement levels, one used by Fanagans to park their fleet.
Meanwhile a plan by Holbien Developments for a 290-bed eight-storey hotel at Leeson Lane and Quinn's Lane has been opposed by TN Kelly, who owns an apartment in St Stephen's Green because of "gross impairment of Leeson Street".
The Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 7 September 2008
Downturn stalls plan for €120m printer site
A plan for a €120 million development of apartments and offices near Dublin city centre has stalled because of economic uncertainty.
The project, on the former Cahill Printers site on East Wall Road, is backed by clients of stockbroker Davy and by building firm Pierse, which bought the site for €32 million last year. Davy raised €14 million from its clients, Pierse provided €2 million and the balance was made up of debt.
The deal was put together in March last year and planning permission for the development of the two-acre site was secured last September after appeals to An Bord Pleanála were withdrawn.
The plan was to demolish the Cahill Printers building and develop 177 apartments, 14 three-bed houses and 73,991 square feet of office space, a shop and a creche.
The Davy investors put up a minimum of €150,000 each and were told their loan was for a duration of five years, with a compound return of 17 per cent a year payable out of profits from the project. However, while the investors were told that construction work was due to start in January this year, no development has yet taken place.
It is understood that talks to sell the site on to a property developer failed, amid a fall-off in the prices being paid for land. A spokesman for Davy said that the firm had no comment to make on the project. Calls to Pierse were not returned.
The Cahill Printers site is about one kilometre from Dublin city centre, and is close to the Port Tunnel and the €800 million Point Village development, which will include shops, a hotel, cinema, the O2 music venue and a skyscraper.
A number of major developments are on hold because of the downturn in the property sector and the economy as a whole. Plans for the U2 Tower on the south quays in Dublin are still under discussion, although it is understood that some progress is being made.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
The project, on the former Cahill Printers site on East Wall Road, is backed by clients of stockbroker Davy and by building firm Pierse, which bought the site for €32 million last year. Davy raised €14 million from its clients, Pierse provided €2 million and the balance was made up of debt.
The deal was put together in March last year and planning permission for the development of the two-acre site was secured last September after appeals to An Bord Pleanála were withdrawn.
The plan was to demolish the Cahill Printers building and develop 177 apartments, 14 three-bed houses and 73,991 square feet of office space, a shop and a creche.
The Davy investors put up a minimum of €150,000 each and were told their loan was for a duration of five years, with a compound return of 17 per cent a year payable out of profits from the project. However, while the investors were told that construction work was due to start in January this year, no development has yet taken place.
It is understood that talks to sell the site on to a property developer failed, amid a fall-off in the prices being paid for land. A spokesman for Davy said that the firm had no comment to make on the project. Calls to Pierse were not returned.
The Cahill Printers site is about one kilometre from Dublin city centre, and is close to the Port Tunnel and the €800 million Point Village development, which will include shops, a hotel, cinema, the O2 music venue and a skyscraper.
A number of major developments are on hold because of the downturn in the property sector and the economy as a whole. Plans for the U2 Tower on the south quays in Dublin are still under discussion, although it is understood that some progress is being made.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 24 August 2008
Crosbie set to press ahead with Dublin skyscraper
Businessman Harry Crosbie has reaffirmed plans to complete his 120-metre skyscraper in Dublin, despite the collapse in the property market, writes Gavin Daly.
A spokesman for Crosbie said that the Watchtower development was going ahead as planned, despite speculation in the construction sector that work on the project had stalled.
‘‘There hasn’t been any change [to the project],” said the spokesman for Crosbie, who said that the building was due to be completed in the second quarter of 2010.
If the project is completed as planned, it will the first residential skyscraper in the country. In the past week, users of the architects’ website Archiseek.com speculated that work on the Watchtower had stopped at ground level because of economic uncertainty.
The 39-storey Watchtower is part of Crosbie’s €850 million Point Village development on Dublin’s north quays. The development, on 12 acres, would include a shopping centre, offices, hotel and cinema, as well as the redeveloped Point Theatre music venue, renamed the O2.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) had intended that the Watchtower would form half of a ‘‘maritime gateway’’ to Dublin, standing across the Liffey from the planned U2 Tower. However, the U2-backed project has stalled, and the DDDA is still in discussions with the consortium behind it.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
A spokesman for Crosbie said that the Watchtower development was going ahead as planned, despite speculation in the construction sector that work on the project had stalled.
‘‘There hasn’t been any change [to the project],” said the spokesman for Crosbie, who said that the building was due to be completed in the second quarter of 2010.
If the project is completed as planned, it will the first residential skyscraper in the country. In the past week, users of the architects’ website Archiseek.com speculated that work on the Watchtower had stopped at ground level because of economic uncertainty.
The 39-storey Watchtower is part of Crosbie’s €850 million Point Village development on Dublin’s north quays. The development, on 12 acres, would include a shopping centre, offices, hotel and cinema, as well as the redeveloped Point Theatre music venue, renamed the O2.
The Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA) had intended that the Watchtower would form half of a ‘‘maritime gateway’’ to Dublin, standing across the Liffey from the planned U2 Tower. However, the U2-backed project has stalled, and the DDDA is still in discussions with the consortium behind it.
Sunday Business Post
www.buckplanning.ie
Thursday, 21 August 2008
The new eircom headquarters.
WHAT's red, blue, purple and green and holds 1,500 people?
The new eircom headquarters.
And our pictures show Dublin's first red-light district in decades lighting up as engineers test the unusual lighting system which will illuminate the night sky around Heuston Station.
The system allows engineers to light up the building in multiple colours, but eircom chiefs are remaining tight-lipped as to what they plan to do with it.
At the moment, they're just testing, but when they decide what to use it for, they'll have to seek approval from Dublin City Council.
Depending on your point of view, it's the epitome of tackiness or state-of-the-art technology. But while new to Ireland, there are other examples of the technology used throughout the world.
The National Library of Belarus -- a rhombicuboctahedron, or diamond shape -- is lit at night using thousands of LED fixtures, while the Full Moon Tower, the centrepiece of Galaxy Park, the main civic plaza in Tianjin, China, also has the technology.
Bills
Eircom says that, despite all the lights, the building is environmentally friendly and is designed to ensure that heating bills don't cost the earth.
"The state-of-the-art facility has been designed to the highest standards of sustainability," a spokesman said. "The building incorporates a twin skin facade to maximise natural ventilation, to cool the building and minimise energy costs.
"The system is currently going through its initial testing phase. A decision on how to use the lighting system has yet to be taken. Staff have started to move in to the building and it is hoped to be fully occupied by late September."
The HQ, at 1 Heuston South Quarter, off St John's Road, will hold 1,500 staff.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
The new eircom headquarters.
And our pictures show Dublin's first red-light district in decades lighting up as engineers test the unusual lighting system which will illuminate the night sky around Heuston Station.
The system allows engineers to light up the building in multiple colours, but eircom chiefs are remaining tight-lipped as to what they plan to do with it.
At the moment, they're just testing, but when they decide what to use it for, they'll have to seek approval from Dublin City Council.
Depending on your point of view, it's the epitome of tackiness or state-of-the-art technology. But while new to Ireland, there are other examples of the technology used throughout the world.
The National Library of Belarus -- a rhombicuboctahedron, or diamond shape -- is lit at night using thousands of LED fixtures, while the Full Moon Tower, the centrepiece of Galaxy Park, the main civic plaza in Tianjin, China, also has the technology.
Bills
Eircom says that, despite all the lights, the building is environmentally friendly and is designed to ensure that heating bills don't cost the earth.
"The state-of-the-art facility has been designed to the highest standards of sustainability," a spokesman said. "The building incorporates a twin skin facade to maximise natural ventilation, to cool the building and minimise energy costs.
"The system is currently going through its initial testing phase. A decision on how to use the lighting system has yet to be taken. Staff have started to move in to the building and it is hoped to be fully occupied by late September."
The HQ, at 1 Heuston South Quarter, off St John's Road, will hold 1,500 staff.
Paul Melia
Irish Independent
www.buckplanning.ie
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