Raising The Roof

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From top: architect, Sam Stephenson, outside the Central Bank in 1989; The proposed Central Plaza development

The development would see the creation of a glass-roof, two-storey 20,000 sq ft rooftop hospitality destination and viewing area that would offer a 360-degree view of the city.

The mixed-use scheme, known as ‘Central Plaza’, would also include retail, restaurants and café uses at both street and basement level.

It is understood the cost of the redevelopment would be at least €70m.

The proposal also envisages an expansion of the existing plaza and the creation of a new streetscape towards College Green and along Fownes St and Cope St.

€70m plan to redevelop former Central Bank HQ (RTÉ)

Ironically, the work will bring the building closer to what its designer, architect Sam Stephenson, originally intended.

He was forced to redraw his plans for the structure when it emerged that they exceeded the height laid down in the original permission granted for the building in the 1970s.

Developers want to alter the roof of old Central Bank (Irish Times)

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39 thoughts on “Raising The Roof

          1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

            To be honest, so do I. Thank God I’m nowhere near being one. Not by a long stretch. No siree, Bob.

  1. edalicious

    The street level retail and restaurants could be a great addition to the whole College Green plaza thing.

  2. ahjayzis

    “retail, restaurants and café uses”

    Such a boringly predictable answer. Roll on the new Starbucks, Wagamama and Zara.

      1. ahjayzis

        Performance space, creative studios, educational resources, museum exhibits, pop-up/temporary multifunctional units.

        Basically something that isn’t already present one or two streets over.

        1. Rob_G

          There are already four theatres, to my count, less than a mile from the Central Bank. I don’t think that any of them are turning away patrons due to overbooking; this being the case, what’s wrong to using the building for services that people seem to want?

          1. Rob_G

            If there is a lack of venues for educational services – sure, maybe. But all things being equal, I think that the best use of property smack bang in the middle of the CBD is probably commercial use of some sort.

        2. Andy

          So basically you want the units to be used for things which will never ever in a million years, make any money for anyone.

          1. ahjayzis

            Why are you so wet for monetising a public building for global multinationals making our city more and more generic?

            Schools and hospitals must really boil your p1ss.

            I don’t cry for the lost euros that could be going up a Starbucks execs nose.
            I do mourn Dublin turning its nose up at anything original, creative, cultural or uniquely Dublin.

          2. Tabloid Rag

            agreed anddddd

            it’s always the typical Leinster jersey wearing scrotes who troll back as well.

  3. dav

    Should be used as a homeless shelter, since it’s previous occupants helped to create the current crises.

    1. Yeah, Ok

      Why don’t we just assume that eeevvveeerrryyything in the country should be used for the homeless, that way we don’t have to have this tired old line shoehorned into every single goddamned story no matter what the subject? Give it a bloody rest.

        1. Yeah, Ok

          Are you accusing me of being one? Does everyone eventually get accused of being a blueshirt when they don’t toe your particular line? How very Orwellian of you. Also you may not be aware that it was FF who destroyed the economy for ten years, and controlled the government for most of its history. I’m neither Blueshirt nor FFer, but neither am I a fascist like your good self.
          The homeless crisis will never be solved as long as it remains a tidy little earner for the various whiter-than-white vested interests who’ve been creaming it for the last 30+ years. Why not use some of the cash from the billion euro industry built up around homelessness to actually, you know, do something meaningful? Wouldn’t want to put the brakes on that gravy train though, would we?
          I bet you call yourself a socialist. You haven’t a clue.

          1. Rob_G

            Don’t be too harsh on dav; I had a similarly black/white view of the world when I was 17, too.

          2. dav

            Yeah ok, the default for any blushirt is to blame ff for destroying the economy. Box 1 ticked.Then ignore the fact that fg are doing the EXACT same thing. Box 2 ticked.
            Then Blame a crises on those who are trying to help. Box 3 ticked.
            If you are not a blushirt, you should give them a call, their hatred of the poor would be appealing to you.

          3. Yeah, Ok

            When you’re an adult you’ll see that not everyone who disagrees with your rosy (ropey?) opinion is a monster. Adults have nuanced views of the world. What you are doing here is the hallmark of a fascist. But you’re not intelligent enough to see that, are you?
            That slippery rod of social justice Paul Murphy et. al slides down your throat is not socialism. They – and you – don’t want to improve the lot of the downtrodden, they want to drag everyone else down. You won’t be happy until we’re all subsistence farmers in an agrarian utopia. Vive la resistance!

          4. dav

            I’ve outlined the reasons I believe you are a blushirt. You haven’t refuted them, just resorted to the ad hominem. But if you are not a blushirt I apologise, I can not think of a worse insult than to be known as one of them, but like I said before, you should check them out. Their indifference to the homeless crises and anger at those who mention it should appeal to you.

        2. ahjayzis

          Success, you mean.

          House prices are soaring – Fine Gael / Fianna Fail have succeeded, give them their due.

    1. Gorev Mahagut

      This possibilty was given serious consideration. It turns out the structure cannot bear the weight of that many books.

    2. Donal

      Dublin City Council have plans to move the Ilac library to the terraced block beside the Hugh Lane gallery and a large modern extension behind this terrace.

  4. Termagant

    Airship terminal

    Airships are coming back, I can feel it, we should get ahead of the game. #1 World destination for airship tourism 2030, it could happen.

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