Architectural Quality

 Focusing on the most spectacular and regrattable effects of the economic crisis, we forget to state the basic assertions . As far as we can judge the architectural production during the 'boom', Irish architects and planners increased the quality of their standards those 15 last years. Aside from the emblematic public projects made by international architecture offices, we can appreciate the amenity of new public spaces and the sureness of architectural design. Cruising in Dublin, we discover a city in metamorphose unfortunately stopped by the euphoria of the property market.

Alarm!

As we were visiting Clongriffin, a high tuned alarm whistled continuously . We could hear it kilometers around all the afternoon. It was the alarm of an apartment (empty or not, we don't know...) but it didn't seem to interest anybody, even the security guardians. That makes me think security devices are often aesthetic or cosmetic tricks.

Street - Clongriffin

To let

At the first sight Dublin looks like a rich, healthy and dynamic city. Brand new modern buildings surround you everywhere you go. Moreover, you can appreciate the real quality of the urban design and architectural projects. The problem is emptiness. Most of the latest built buildings are unoccupied and you can see on many facades the words 'To Let'. They were the first visible signs of the crisis effects.

Ersatz facade

I never saw such an effort to simulate a finished building. I must assume that this trick works in the distance but starts to vanish at the approach of the building until the effect disappears when you just face the problem : the building is only made of concrete slabs with a printed mesh as an ersatz of balconies, walls, windows and people.

Erzatz facade - Sandyford

Sandyford Slabs

Paint In Black

Black Fence 1 - Clongriffin

Black Fence 2 - Clongriffin

Black Fence 3 - Clongriffin

Black Fence 4 - Clongriffin

Black Fence 5 - Clongriffin

Land Art in Clongriffin

Clongriffin is a well-known area for its unfinished allotments. However it looks like a Christo installation, this Red Fence preserves neighborhood from the daily sight of unfinished building and derelict wastelands.

Red Fence 1 - Clongriffin

Red Fence 2 - Clongriffin

Red Fence 3 - Clongriffin

Semi-D Land

After meeting yesterday with Mick McDonagh (Architect, Chair of the RIAI Housing Committee), we now focus our exploration on the surburbs of Dublin.

Friday afternoon we took the DART to the South-West, to Tallagh.

It seems the lack of control on urban development during the Boom, together with the wish of Irish people to live in an own individual "coutryside-style" house, gave place to the urban sprawling.

The city poetry

The Liffey cuts the city

Like a meandering blue vein

Ancient poetry echoes

In soft rain down the lanes

Anglo Irish Slabs

Wednesday 21st of July. First day exploring Dublin city centre.

The Docklands. Here is one of the most symbolic frozen buildings, as it was meant to be the new headquarter for the Anglo Irish Bank.

First contact with the Dublin Convergent Territories Team

A week ago, we sent a mail to the Dublin team to prepare our forthcoming meeting and to organise our stay in Dublin. Karina O'Neill answered us fews days ago, saying she was organizing meetings and presentations with local interlocutors. She also encouraged us to visit the Shadowland website ( www.shadowland.ie ) were we found proposals from differents architects to manage" the legacy of half-finished projects, ghost housing estates and land zoned for development in inappropriate locations" left by "the lack of ideas and imagination in planning and construction over the last twenty years". The aim of Shadowland is clear. So are the proposals...