Dublin City Council

WOOD QUAY CIVIC OFFICES AND NEARBY

February 15, 2023 by infomatique

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL

The Wood Quay site was allocated as a proposed headquarters of Dublin City Council in the 1940s but construction did not begin until the early 1980s due to the discovery of the remains of the Viking city.

The monumental towers were built to a design by Sam Stephenson, whose original design included two more towers to the north-west. However the latter part of the design was shelved, with the later phase of the offices built to a design by Scott Tallon Walker in the late 1990s. A strong horizontal emphasis is created by recessed window strips, which articulate the facades.

The later connecting glass atrium to the centre provides a contrast to the solidity of the granite cladding, the combination of these materials characteristic of contemporary architecture. The building has continued in its original use and remains a controversial but focal point and landmark structure in the city.

NEW LANDSCAPING UNDERWAY AT RYDERS ROW IN DUBLIN

February 13, 2023 by infomatique

APEX OF THE TRIANGLE BOUNDED BY CAPEL STREET – RYDERS ROW – PARNELL STREET

New landscaping and tree planting at the north end of Capel Street/Ryder’s Row by @DCCParksBiodiv, bounded by new Leinster granite kerbs. It marks the beginning of the Capel Street interim public realm enhancement, to be delivered along the entire street by the start of summer.

In 2022 the City Council had announced that they are going ahead with their plan to pedestrianise Capel Street promising many changes but at the time I could not determine their plan for Ryders Row however I suspected that the sudden demolition of sections of the Bike Yard might be of some importance to the future of the area. At the time it was stressed that the pedestrian and cycle-only zone will stretch for most of the length of the street from Parnell Street and Ryder’s Row at its northern end, to Strand Street in the south.

My interest in Ryders Row [actually the triangle consisting of Ryders Row, a section of Capel Street and a section of Parnell Street] began with the following story 26 May 2004, mainly as I live a short distance from what I have always considered to be a eyesore:

A city centre Dublin street has been closed to allow for the emergency demolition of three unsafe buildings. Dublin City Coucil said Parnell Street is closed from the junction of Ryders Row to the junction of Capel Street “as a matter of public safety”. Numbers 218, 219 and 220 on the street are being torn down after a fire last week left them in “eminent danger of collapse”. “The buildings concerned are a national monument and considerable care has to be exercised in undertaking any demolition with full regard for sound conservation principles,” the council said in a statement.

In 2019 Dublin City Council issues a Compulsory Purchase (Residential/Commercial Development), Order for the following :

67 Capel Street, Dublin 1
11/12 Ryder’s Row, Dublin 1
13 Ryder’s Row, Dublin 1
14/15 Ryder’s Row, Dublin 1
218 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
219 Parnell Street, Dublin 1
222 Parnell Street, (parts of) Dublin 1
220 Parnell Street (parts of), Dublin 1
221 Parnell Street, (part of) Dublin 1
221 Parnell Street, (part of) Dublin 1

Public footpath & roadway (part of), Ryder’s Row from its junction with Parnell Street in a North Westerly direction for a distance of approximately 70 metres to its junction with Capel Street, Dublin 1.

Public footpath & roadway (part of), Parnell Street from its junction with Ryder’s row in a South Westerly direction for a distance of approximately 38 metres to the western boundary of No. 222 Parnell Street, Dublin 1.

Public footpath & roadway (part of), Ryder’s Row from the northern boundary of No. 66 Capel Street in a North Westerly direction for a distance of approximately 14 metres towards the junction with Ryder’s Row, Dublin 1

In 2021 I publish the following comments along with a selection of photographs:

A street named Ryder’s Row is without doubt an appropriate address for a Bike Yard business.

The area is question is a triangle of properties formed by Ryder’s Row, one end of Capel Street and one short section of Capel Street.

There was a derelict site to the right of the bicycle yard which was converted into a mini public-park which immediately became a magnet for rough sleepers at night and students during the day. Daytime users were not a problem but from about 7pm it became a place to be avoided.

Sadly a person believed to be sleeping rough was found dead in the park. This was the second homeless person to die in the immediate area in recent times. One, who died, was a well known local character who wandered the city together with his little dog in a shopping trolley.

The mini-park is currently fenced off and unavailable as a public space.

This semi-derelict complex is behind a house of note on Capel Street. Described as a Dutch Billy it is one of a small number of extant examples of Dublin’s rich pre-Georgian architectural heritage, many of which have now been demolished or unrecognisably altered. In fact, it is one of only a few surviving intact on Capel Street, a thoroughfare once dominated by these structures.

MOTEL ONE STILL A WIP

January 16, 2023 by infomatique

SO THE LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS SCHEME IS SLIGHTLY DELAYED

In May 2919 I wrote the following: “Construction of a 310-room hotel at this location is underway. When completed in mid-2020, the hotel will be operated by the budget hotel brand Motel One. It is claimed that the development will transform the area, encouraging tourist footfall and general retail activity in the surrounding area.”

It is now January and for various reasons the hotel is still a work in progress.

Dublin City Council, through its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, now propose to commence work on the LIFFEY STREET PUBLIC REALM WORKS Scheme in the fourth (4th) week of January 2023 (Monday, 23rd). This brief postponement of commencement (from the previously advertised 9th January Starting Date) is consequent on unexpected delay(s) to the completion of Motel One on Liffey Street Upper (previously due to open at the end of December). Unfortunately, there is not enough space on the street to accommodate both the Motel’s Contractor and the Roadworks Contractor at the same time.

Liffey Street (both Upper and Lower) provides an important link between the north and south city centre shopping and tourist precincts. Liffey Street can experience some 30,000 pedestrians and some 2,500 vehicles per day, and accommodation of same will present the Contractor no small challenge during the Works.

This scheme is being progressed as part of the Public Realm Strategy, the City Centre Masterplan and the Reimagining Dublin One Study, which was developed to meet the objectives of the overarching Dublin City Council Public Realm Strategy ‘Your City Your Space’ document.

A high quality design is being utilised to improve the ambiance of the street, with increased greening and wider footpaths creating a quality space to be enjoyed by all.

The proposed Works will involve a full upgrade of the footpaths and carriageway at this location. The footpaths will be widened and repaved in granite, and notable new planting will be included to match those already introduced in other recently completed city centre streets.

The above Works include, but are not limited to:-

The proposed works extend the full length of Liffey Street Upper and Lower from its junction with Henry Street running south to its junction with Ormond Quay and Bachelor’s Walk along the Liffey Quays. The Scheme’s Works endeavours to minimise disruption to local businesses and the general public.

The Liffey Street Public Realm project involves the excavation, reconstruction, milling and reconstruction of the asphalt carriageway and the repaving of the footpaths with new granite slabs and setts laid on a new high strength bedding mortar, replacing the existing pavement materials, and as shown on the scheme design drawings.

The existing pedestrian area on Liffey Street Upper is extended to the intersection with Abbey Street. A new pedestrian plaza will be created on Liffey Street Lower between Strand Street and the Quays.

The Works involve the replacement of an existing gas main, the provision and installation of new water mains, the provision of new surface water sewers, public lighting and communications ducts, street furniture in the form of bollards, benches, bicycle stands, and bins and the replacement of some utility covers and frames within the site extents.

The Works also involve the provision of planted areas throughout the scheme.

Liffey Street lower is currently open to one-way southbound traffic along its entire length from Abbey Street to the Quays.

There are pedestrian footways on both sides of the road. Insofar as is reasonably possible, through-traffic will be maintained for the duration of the works between Abbey Street and Strand Street. However, it is acknowledged in advance, that Temporary Road Closures (affecting vehicular traffic) will have to be an integral part of these Pubic Roadworks.

Temporary Traffic Management will be a major part of the proposed Works, with the safety of pedestrians and other road users remaining paramount throughout the construction period.

The Contractor will do its’ utmost to preserve vehicular passage along the street insofar as is reasonably possible, during the course of the Works.

Dublin City Council, and its’ Public Works Contractor, Cairn Construction, apologise in advance for any inconvenience or disruption these Works may cause.

https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/transportation/roads-and-traffic-projects/liffey-street-public-realm-works