Reality of Dun Laoghaire Library

RainyDay

Larbre34 wrote: »

The PR charm offensive is in full swing.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/librarian-hopes-new-d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-library-will-wow-public-1.1865186

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-council-architect-surprised-at-criticism-of-new-library-1.1865009


'Give it a chance' just isn't good enough for a building and location of this significance when its obvious the emperor has no clothes.

Good thinking. Let's knock it down before we've got inside the door.

Larbre34

RainyDay wrote: »

Good thinking. Let's knock it down before we've got inside the door.

Yes that would be my opening position. Whatever worthy facilities it might have within does not justify the adverse impact of the building itself.

RainyDay

Larbre34 wrote: »

Yes that would be my opening position. Whatever worthy facilities it might have within does not justify the adverse impact of the building itself.

I'd suggest you hand out flyers outlining your position to all those entering the library, and see how many take your view on board.

josip

RainyDay wrote: »

I'd suggest you hand out flyers outlining your position to all those entering the library, and see how many take your view on board.

Do you think it would be more or less than the approx. 4,000 people on the housing waiting list in Dun Laoghaire?

Aard

Larbre34 wrote: »

Yes that would be my opening position. Whatever worthy facilities it might have within does not justify the adverse impact of the building itself.

While I agree with you that it isn't a particularly attractive building, and that it might have been better integrated with the public realm at ground floor level, I do not think that tearing it down would be worth the amount of money and energy invested in the building to date.

RainyDay

josip wrote: »

Do you think it would be more or less than the approx. 4,000 people on the housing waiting list in Dun Laoghaire?

I'd bet a fiver that the number who would agree with the flyer would be less than 4, never mind 4,000.

patrickbrophy18

I know that I was strongly against it initially. However, with the rendering and other finishing touches applied in recent months, it's beginning to grow on me. The CGI impression certainly didn't do it justice which lead me into thinking that it would be a monstrosity much like the Irish Sea Fisheries Board. Now, when I pass by the "Lexicon", it isn't half bad. In fact, it's quite impressive. The name is quite catchy.

Tabnabs

Settling in quite nicely





http://www.thejournal.ie/dun-laoghaire-rathdown-library-1576214-Jul2014/?utm_source=facebook_short

I can't wait for the opening later in the year.

Larbre34

Yeah it looks inobtrusive when viewed from a distance in some vetted media release pictures in the context of a hand held interview, initiated by the subject.

The further away you go it looks better still

Tabnabs

jcon1913

Tabnabs wrote: »

I'm not listening, I'm not listening

ted1

Tabnabs wrote: »

Settling in quite nicely





http://www.thejournal.ie/dun-laoghaire-rathdown-library-1576214-Jul2014/?utm_source=facebook_short

I can't wait for the opening later in the year.

Once again still no side view

Bits_n_Bobs

There's no question that once the building has been...photoshopped....and viewed far away...and from a particular angle...it's not quite as offensive as many of the vacant shop units on the main street of Dun Laoghaire.

uch

I was at Newtownsmith yesterday and you wouldn't notice it, maybe not the greatest angle but from the few times I've been in the town and looked at it, the only angle that isn't complementary is when you are standing right beside it on the Kingston side.

josip

uch wrote: »

I was at Newtownsmith yesterday and you wouldn't notice it, maybe not the greatest angle but from the few times I've been in the town and looked at it, the only angle that isn't complementary is when you are standing right beside it on the Kingston side.

Agreed.

Larbre34

josip wrote: »

Agreed.

You call that complementary? That used to be the view of the Mariners church from the Harbour, now obliterated

josip

Ah now, more obscured than obliterated.
If you look closely you can see the top of the spire above the roof.

Larbre34

Oh yeah. Thats grand then.

That username is already in use.

josip

Blends in very well with the clouds. Shure you'd hardly notice it.

uch

Genuinely don't see anything wrong here

josip wrote: »

Agreed.

Tabnabs

Progressing.

Glenalla

Just fits right in there !!!!!!

Zascar

Apart from all that, can anyone explain why they decided they'd spend 36 million Euro on a Library? Does anyone even use them any more? There are much bigger issues in Dun Laoghaire that should have been prioritised over a library. It used to be a really cool place but the shops have been closing down in droves. Even the 40 foot bar is gone.

Surely some people could have thought the money could have been better spent to develop the town over all..

RosieJoe

Zascar wrote: »

Apart from all that, can anyone explain why they decided they'd spend 36 million Euro on a Library? Does anyone even use them any more? There are much bigger issues in Dun Laoghaire that should have been prioritised over a library. It used to be a really cool place but the shops have been closing down in droves. Even the 40 foot bar is gone.

Surely some people could have thought the money could have been better spent to develop the town over all..

coylemj

Zascar wrote: »

Apart from all that, can anyone explain why they decided they'd spend 36 million Euro on a Library? Does anyone even use them any more? There are much bigger issues in Dun Laoghaire that should have been prioritised over a library. It used to be a really cool place but the shops have been closing down in droves. Even the 40 foot bar is gone.

Surely some people could have thought the money could have been better spent to develop the town over all..

Don't forget that they also demolished and rebuilt Deansgrange library during a recession and Blackrock Library has a new home in the newly built complex on Main St. which contains the relocated Senior College, now renamed.

And all the while the businesses which are paying the rates are closing in droves.

Libraries and cycle lanes are more important than jobs and local businesses.

Aard

I wouldn't lump cycle lanes into the "extravagant spending" category that new libraries are in. Cycle lanes are usually done as part of a general road upgrade anyway -- i.e. the whole street isn't resurfaced etc solely to put in a solid white line. Improving cycling infrastructure can increase access to retail and attract more shoppers into town/village more safely and frequently. I'm sure libraries act as an attraction too, but seeing as they're standalone construction projects, their development strikes me as being more discretionary than bike lanes.

CatFromHue

I have to say I don't see the problem with the skyline and the library. I've passed by it an awful lot and it's never ruined the skyline or the area for me.

Larbre34

coylemj wrote: »

Don't forget that they also demolished and rebuilt Deansgrange library during a recession and Blackrock Library has a new home in the newly built complex on Main St. which contains the relocated Senior College, now renamed.

And all the while the businesses which are paying the rates are closing in droves.

Libraries and cycle lanes are more important than jobs and local businesses.

It isnt rates money that pays for all those things, its massive reserves of planning levies left over from the boom. The rates go in to current spending, which is already bare to the bone. The Councils couldnt spend their levies reserves on day to day things like maintenance or rates cuts even if they wanted to, it would be illegal, they must spend it on new roads, parks and amenities, water supplies etc. or else it wouldnt get spent at all.

Fratton Fred

Larbre34 wrote: »

It isnt rates money that pays for all those things, its massive reserves of planning levies left over from the boom. The rates go in to current spending, which is already bare to the bone. The Councils couldnt spend their levies reserves on day to day things like maintenance or rates cuts even if they wanted to, it would be illegal, they must spend it on new roads, parks and amenities, water supplies etc. or else it wouldnt get spent at all.

Heaven forbid someone spend money on maintaining things if it bends the law.