12 Pro Max

CHARLEMONT SQUARE 26 MARCH 2023

March 26, 2023 by infomatique

CHARLEMONT STREET REGENERATION PROJECT

This was my first time to visit this new complex.

Charlemont Square is the second phase of the transformative Charlemont Street regeneration placemaking project in the heart of Dublin 2. This €210 million mixed-use development involved the reimaging of c.13,000m2 – mostly derelict – space on a logistically challenging site close to the city centre. The creation of a focal point for the local community was a key ambition of this development, which commenced in January 2018 and was completed in December 2022.

Works consisted of the demolition and site clearance of four existing residential blocks, including specialist asbestos removal, prior to the construction of six multi-storey blocks.

This phase of regeneration delivered 96 apartments, 355,000ft² of Grade A office space and 30,000ft² of retail space for the local area.

The residential portion of this project comprises a unique collection of one, two and three-bed apartments, designed and delivered to a high quality.

The office incorporates Grade 2 basement over two levels, cast in-situ RC frame with bespoke curtain walling and glazing with large areas of brick and stone cladding. Internally, the accommodation provides efficient floor plates with suspended ceilings with 650mm void, 150mm raised access floors and minimised internal columns with 12m clear spans. Roof terraces and tenant facilities including secure basement car parking and bicycle spaces, showers and drying facilities are also provided. The scheme has a WireScore rating of Platinum, LEED Gold, and an A3 BER rating.

At street level, the retail space incorporates convenience retail, food and beverage uses and an art studio, complementing the residential and office accommodation.

[March 2014] The Charlemont Street flat complex near Ranelagh was to have been redeveloped as a public-private partnership scheme including shops, restaurants, offices, as well as 260 new apartments. However, despite beginning demolition, including razing Scott’s 1944 building Ffrench Mullen House, the council had been unable to finalise a deal on the regeneration project. Independent city councillor Mannix Flynn sought to save Ffrench Mullen House, because its demolition was ethically wrong given the block was a “one-off social housing unit, designed by Michael Scott in 1944 during the Emergency”, and that it should be reused. Ffrench Mullen House was named after Madeline Ffrench Mullen who developed the nearby St Ultan’s Hospital for Women and Infants in 1919 in response to the dire socioeconomic conditions in Dublin.

AREA NEAR THE THREE SEA LOCKS

March 26, 2023 by infomatique

GRAND CANAL DOCK

Grand Canal Dock originally opened in 1796, as the terminal to the Central Line of the Grand Canal, at the time was the largest dock in the world. A group of three sea locks, Camden, Buckingham and Westmoreland were built in the same year, to connect the River Liffey to Grand Canal Dock. Camden Lock being the largest of the three could facilitate sea vessels. The three locks including two central dock platforms were constructed from tooled granite and designed to accommodate the tidal fluctuations of the River Liffey.

Within 50 years of the docks completion, the sea locks were deemed obsolete. Advances in steam power, left even Camden Lock too small for the new breed of steam ship. This along with the development of the railway led to a steady decline in the use of and necessity for Grand Canal Dock and the Sea Locks.

ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL QUARTER AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

March 17, 2023 by infomatique

17 MARCH 2023

For many years I had a media pass to for the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin but in recent years I have decided to give the parade a miss mainly because security became mote and more restrictive to the extent that I impacted on my photograph. This year I was not going to undertake any photography during the festival mainly as I was scheduled to travel to Kilkenny this weekend. However, I cancelled my trip to kilkenny.

Today, 17th March, I had lunch at Eatokyo on Capel Street and as I was finished by 2PM I decided to wander around and take some random photographs using my iPhone. Up until today I had not realised that I had a Lightroom App which allowed me to take .DNG [RAW files] images so I decided to experiment but when I returned home I discovered a number of unexpected problems which I will not discuss here.

The grounds of one of Ireland’s most spectacular and historic heritage sites in the heart of Dublin will feature Tent Mór and Tent Beag, an outdoor Main Stage, performance spaces, relaxation areas, a mini-funfair and the Irish Food and Craft Village.

All daytime events will be free of charge, along with the full day and night programme on St. Patrick’s Day, supported by Dublin Airport. Night time events on the 16th and 18th of March will require a pre-purchased ticket that will be valid for the full evening’s programme.

Festival Quarter will be open to all ages throughout the day, and will be reserved for adults only from 6pm to 10:30pm. Just a short walk from the city centre, easily accessible by Luas and bus, and adjacent to Heuston Station, Festival Quarter will be a bustling hub for locals and visitors alike, from March 16th to 18th.

THE GUINNESS CLOCK AT THE CLOCK PUB ON THOMAS STREET

February 18, 2023 by infomatique

WILL CEASE TRADING 18-19 FEBRUARY 2023

I photographed this pub back in December 2018 as I was in the process of photographing Guinness clocks around the city.

A few days ago I was in the Thomas Street area and a local who was interested in my camera and the history of the area mentioned that I will have my last chance the get the best pint in Dublin on the weekend as the Clock Pub [including the whole block] was to be demolished.

Today it was mentioned in some publications that the building in which the Clock is located has been sold and that the pub would close this weekend [18-13 February 2023] and that the future of the site as uncertain.

THE GUINNESS CLOCK AT THE CLOCK PUB ON THOMAS STREET

SOUTH WILLIAM STREET

February 8, 2023 by infomatique

FEBRUARY 2023

South William Street, runs from the junction with Exchequer Street, Wicklow Street, and St. Andrew’s Street on its northeastern end to the junction of Johnson Place and Stephen Street on its southwestern end.

The street was laid out in 1676 by William Williams and was part of Dublin’s 17th-century expansion beyond its medieval walls. The street has one of the largest and most complete groups of 18th century merchants’ houses in the city. However, M’Cready claims the street is named after King William III.

In 2012, the street was rebranded as being the centre of Dublin’s “Creative Quarter”, an area noted for its “independent design stores, fashion outlets and cafes”. The UK’s Academy of Urbanism has noted that the street has transformed “from the bustling heart of the rag trade to a well-known spot for retail entrepreneurs, start-ups and those in search of a good night out”.

The street is dominated by Powerscourt House, the former Dublin townhouse of Viscount Powerscourt. It was constructed in the 18th century for Richard Wingfield, 3rd Viscount Powerscourt, a member of the Irish House of Lords. The townhouse was the Wingfield family’s urban residence when they were visiting from the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry, County Wicklow.

Designed by Robert Mack, it dates from between 1771 and 1774. The court at the rear of the building was created with the addition of three brown-brick office buildings from 1809 to 1811. The townhouse was purchased and redeveloped as a shopping centre between 1978 and 1981 and is now known as the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre.