Grattan Bridge, Dublin 1
Ah here.
Gavin Sheridan writes:
We put benches on Grattan Bridge facing the traffic – not the river. People love watching traffic #uglydublin…
Fight!
Everything. As It Happens.
Grattan Bridge, Dublin 1
Ah here.
Gavin Sheridan writes:
We put benches on Grattan Bridge facing the traffic – not the river. People love watching traffic #uglydublin…
Fight!
It’s to ensure the hundreds homeless in Dublin cannot get a scrap of privacy as they ry to sleep on the benches.
People love watching people too.
These benches face into the wide footpath/plaza, and are set closer the bridge parapet to afford max people-watching, and max distance from the noisy traffic
If the orientation were reversed, the benches would have to be very close to the carriageways, so as not to have the bridge parapet in your face. It would be awfully noisy. I think they got it right.
Thought they were facing the setting sun myself so they’re a nice place to sit in the afternoon/evening. Of course, they could have put benches on both sides to keep everyone happy.
Actual tho.
It’s a bridge. So they’re facing people, traffic AND the river!
And the sunset.
Were they not originally part of some kind of shop kiosk thing. So they would have faced a shop rather than the traffic
http://www.bridgesofdublin.ie/gallery/view/grattan-bridge-kiosk-2004
True that
Well spotted, there ya go.
The “kiosks” were supposed to be second-hand book stalls. I know some people in that business who were invited by the City Council to a consultation with the architect who was designing them. The architect produced plans for these kiosks. The booksellers pointed out that a second-hand book stall needs displays where people can browse through the books, but that in a kiosk 80% of the stock is behind the desk and you can’t browse. The architect replied that these kiosks work well in Paris and the booksellers pointed out that those kiosks in Paris are selling newspapers and magazines, not books. The architect then said too bad, we’ve already finished the design. Well, asked the booksellers, what kind of “consultation” is this? The City Council people said, we want to know if you’d like to rent a kiosk. And the booksellers said no chance. So the City Council built the kiosks and then took them down a short while later.
Wow.
Another example of the great ‘thinking’ of the virtual illiterates in DCC. I fondly remember the happy hours once spent browsing the stalls of these fine booksellers. Great literature within the grasp of a pov such as me. Thanks to all of you. Bolleau to DCC
I kind of think it was a fail by the architect more than the council. I mean, designing structures that are fit for purpose is the architect’s job. But of course, I hate architects with a burning rage of a thousand suns.
there was one selling paintings of a cow’s face (same cow, variety of different expressions and angles). and there was one selling venetian blinds. I assumed the council were giving them at zero rent.
I remember when they announced this and then never saw any books being sold.
But this story doesn’t surprise me one bit.
Jobs for the boys.
I have absolutely no recollection of those kiosks ever being there.
And if you lay down on the benches you face the sky….what the actual eff, I mean like literally c’mon now, you know what I mean?
Last I saw of those Kiosks they were rotting away in the Dublin City Coumcil depot in St Anne’s Park.
Yeah, more “catchpenny” thinking on the part of our betters. Cheer up Lads, we’re in SUCH safe hands.
yep – here’s the three of them: https://www.google.ie/maps/@53.372292,-6.1770921,222m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!7m1!2e1
But Grattan Bridge is not Paris.
Perhaps it would be Gratin if it were.
I belong to Glasgow
dear old Glasgow town
there must be something the matter with Glasgy fer it’s turning round and round
I’m just a common auld working chap as anyone here can see
but when I get a pint on a saterday night
GLASGY BELANGS TE ME