3.1.2 West Terrace - Dublin · 39 3.1.2 West Terrace: A new public space, the West Terrace, is proposed to the west of station, elevated over tracks. The West Terrace is part of a

37

3.1.1 Heuston Square

The space to the front of the Headquarters Building of the GreatWestern Railway is considered to be in the centre of the HeustonGateway. All destinations in the area radiate from this space.Heuston Square is the main arrival space from the city centre.The development of this site is in line with the Dublin CityDevelopment Plan 1999. This plan proposes the space as a gateway to the city and as a nodal space connected by pedestriannetworks.Heuston Square has river frontage along the north edge and linksVictoria Quay to the section of Quay north of the station building,River Terrace (please refer to section 3.1.3). This is identified as aprincipal pedestrian desire line and must therefore beappropriately detailed to allow safe and controlled flow across traffic carriageways and Luas lines.Heuston Square is the site of the three Luas platforms for Heuston Station.The Square provides access to the bridges at the end of the one-way system on the quays. Traffic must therefore be carefully managed with pedestrian and cycle paths protected.

Character:• It is proposed that the space should be an active and

central urban square for the Heuston Gateway.• The space must provide clear legibility for the entire

area. The views up to IMMA and across to the National Museum at Collins Barracks are important in terms of orientation.

• The choice of hard landscaping surface should contrastwith the standard materials used throughout the city. Thesurface should be of a high quality.

• The square will benefit from excellent views and light due to the relatively low existing protected structures tothe south and west.

heuston gateway: regeneration strategy and development framework plan

Associated development:• The Guinness site on Victoria Quay and Heuston Square

opposite the Headquarters Building should be developed with a high profile building of the highest architectural standards. General building height should be approximately equivalent to six floors of commercial use.

• Part of the site should be developed as a landmark tall building with appropriate slenderness and transparency.

• The development of the Caskworks on Steevens Lane provides an opportunity for high-density commercial development. The northern block will have frontage onto Heuston Square and Dr Steevens’ Hospital Park. Again six floors of commercial or equivalent is proposed.

Heuston Gateway: public domain: Heuston Square location

38

development framework planurbanprojects

existing context:a. existing Heuston Square from southb. existing Heuston Square from north-westc. elevation of Luas stop at Heuston Station, CIEpublic transport in public space:d. tram, Montpelier, Francee. Luas, photomontage, Connolly Station, Dublin, CIEf. train station forecourt, Nordhausen, Germanyg. bus on public space, Place des Terraux, Lyons, Francepublic spaces:h. Place des Terraux, Lyons, France [Christian Drevet]j. Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam, Holland [West 8]k. Place d’Armes, Namur, Belgium [Atelier 4D]

a. b.

c.

d. e. f. g.

h. j. k.

39

3.1.2 West Terrace:

A new public space, the West Terrace, is proposed to the west ofstation, elevated over tracks. The West Terrace is part of asequence of spaces running from IMMA to the Phoenix Park,linked by a legible and high quality pedestrian and cycle route.The space will allow vehicular access to lands at the rear of thestation and create a new forecourt to the station addressing landto the west. The West Terrace should be used by public transport, taxis and private carsEast bound traffic should have the option to connect with the terrace from St. John’s Road. Traffic can continue across toConyngham Road or access the station and station lands.The impact of traffic through the space should be minimised andaccess to the rear of the station efficient and controlled.

Character:• The West Terrace uses the topography of the valley to

create the illusion that the terrace is at grade. By takingthe level of Conyngham Road and continuing it across the river to the rear of the station and across the tracks, a new datum level is created.

• The space should be highly organised and have a civic character appropriate to the forecourt to the National Station and a gateway to the city.

• The West Terrace will lie in the centre of the valley between IMMA and the Wellington monument and will have a panoramic view of both structures and the LiffeyValley to the West.

• The West Terrace should be clearly divided into trafficked and pedestrian areas.

• The West Terrace will benefit from south-west to west aspect, with an almost unobstructed view to the setting sun.

• The southern edge of the space is partially enclosed bythe development on the Eircom site on St. John’s Road

West. The edge is defined by St. John’s Road (N4) at the lower level.

Associated development:• The west end of the station should be redeveloped with

a new elevation onto the West Terrace. From this elevation the central concourse to the east can be accessed and therefore also Heuston Square and the Luas platforms.

• The site north of the station is considered suitable for atall building. Suggested uses are for hotel, residential orcommercial accommodation.

• A significant building should be developed to the northwest of the West Terrace of height equivalent to 3storeys commercial above 2 levels of parking (pleaserefer to section 4.3.1). This building is within the pro-tected view between IMMA and the Department ofDefence (Gandon building). This building also hasprominent frontage onto the space.


Heuston Gateway: public domain: West Terrace location

40


existing views:a. view to Conyngham Road Bus Depot from Heuston Station car parkb. view of Conyngham Road Bus Depot from quays by Heustoin Stationc. view of Guinness UDV Brewery from apartments on Conyngham Roadd. view of IMMA at Royal Hospital Kilmainham from apartments on Conyngham Roade. views of Waverley Station and Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotlandstations using level changes:f. Broadgate, Liverpool Street, Londong. Seville Station, Spain [Cruz + Ortiz]h. Attocha Station, Madrid, Spain [Rafael Moneo]

a.

e.

f. g. h.

b. c. d.

3.1.3 River Terrace

The proposed access to the station lands from Conyngham Roadfrees up the area between the existing station building and theriver. This creates a car-free terrace that marks the transition fromthe man-made urban quay condition to a natural, planted riverside condition west of Heuston.

Character• The River Terrace should provide external amenity

space for the station services and circulation. Bars and cafes should be developed along the edge of the station onto the terrace.

• The space will be characterised by the views across and along the river.

• The movement of passengers from the West Terrace tothe station concourse and the Heuston Square might be accommodated along this space.

• A tall building is proposed to the west end of the River Terrace. The Terrace will create a lower forecourt to the

building.

Associated development• The redevelopment of the northern edge of the station

should provide restaurant, bar and retail facilities.• The tall building should be accessed from the River

Terrace and West Terrace. This will encouragemovement in an east-west direction through the River Terrace.

• Any development must allow for riverside walkways to continue on the south bank as far as Clancy barracks.


41

Heuston Gateway: public domain: River Terrace location


42

existing contaxt:a. existing view of River Terrace looking eastb. view from Heuston Station lands to Sean Heuston Bridgec. view of Wellington Monument and Conyngham Road Bus Depot from existing River Terraced. north side of Heuston Station buildngprecedents for re-use of railway structures / waterside developments:e. Viaduct des Artes, Paris, Francef. canalside, Borneo Sporenburg, Amsterdamg. Brindley Place, Birmingham, England

a. b. c. d.

e. f. g.

43

3.1.4 Dr. Steevens’ Hospital Park

Dr. Steevens’ Hospital, presently occupied by the EasternRegional Health Authority, is set back from St John’s Road (N4).The space to the front of the building is currently planted and it isproposed that this space should be extended and re-landscaped.The park should be an integral part of the route from the NationalMuseum at Collins Barricks to Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA)

Character• The park should contrast with Heuston Square. The

space should be heavily planted while allowing views up to IMMA and over to the National Museum at Collins Barracks. The park should have provision for seating and relaxation.

• The park should be for pedestrians and cyclists only, with limited access for service vehicles.

• The park should not conform to the symmetry of the façade of Dr. Steevens’ Hospital or the south façade of the station. The park should bring together a wider collection of existing and new buildings.

• The Luas will run along the eastern edge of the park.

Associated development• All new buildings on the perimeter of the park must

address the space and create an appropriate relationship with the landscape.

• The development of the Caskworks fronting onto the park should be six storeys of commercial use.

• All new development to the west of the space on OPW land should respect the context of Dr. Steevens’Hospital, the station and the National Monuments. This area is considered appropriate for a carefully placed and designed tall building. It should address the Dr.Steevens’ Hospital Park and herald the avenue leading up to IMMA.


Heuston Gateway: public domain: Dr Steevens’ Hospital Park

44


existing context:a. existing view of Dr Steevens’ Hospital and Parkb. existing view of Dr Steevens’ Hospital Parksoft landscaped urban places:c. Parc Citroen, Paris [Provost and Clement]d. Story Garden, Oregon [Macy and Kirkland]e. Plaza Berri, Montreal [Jacobs and Poullaouec-Gonidec]

a. b.

c. d. e.

45


3.1.5 IMMA Avenue

A new pedestrian dominant link, IMMA Avenue, is proposedbetween Dr.Steevens’ Hospital Park and IMMA, parallel with theCammock river. The avenue is part of the route between the National Museum and IMMA.The IMMA Avenue provides access through OPW lands, increasing permeability for pedestrians.

Character• The avenue should be an easily legible and defined

route between the gates of IMMA and Dr. Steevens’Hospital Park.

• The connection both visually and physically with the Cammock River should be maintained.

• A vibrant mix of uses integrating with public space should be encouraged.

• The avenue should have high levels of natural light withviews to the wider context.

• Hard and soft landscaped areas should be developed.

Associated development• The northern end of the route is to be marked by a

carefully considered tall building overlooking Dr.Steevens’ Park. This should be a residential or hotel building to allow the appropriate slenderness ratio and floorplate.

• The development along the Cammock is to be primarilyresidential up to 7 storeys. The development pattern should allow generous breaks for access and views to the Cammock River to reduce the sense of enclosure along the avenue.

• The development within the curtilage of the National Monuments is to be of appropriate scale. The development pattern should be of pavilions set within parkland.

Heuston Gateway: public domain: IMMA Avenue

46


existing context:a. National Museum at Collins Barracksb. Dr Steevens’ Hospital Parkc. ERHA car parkd. Cammock Riverpublic spaces:e. public space, Lyonsf. public space, Amsterdamg. public space, Berlin

a. b. c. d.

e. f. g.

47

3.1.6 Eircom Gardens

The area defined by the wall of IMMA, St John’s Road and the significant view line from the Deputy Master’s House at IMMA toGandon’s Royal Infirmary building should be landscaped to create‘Eircom Gardens’. (Please refer to section 3.2.3.1)The gardens of IMMA are made up of 2 principal elements: a formal raised garden to the north of the building set within a wider‘natural’ landscape which originally extended to the Phoenix Parkto the north and the Guinness lands to the east.It is considered essential that the sense of a wider landscape ispreserved. Eircom Gardens should provide planting to the east of the formal gardens.The axes in the formal garden are abstractions of routes throughthe land beyond the confines of the walled garden. The axes arerelevant only to the Royal Hospital Kilmainham complex. To continue or use these axes beyond the walls would weaken the abstract nature of the original garden design.

Character:• Eircom Gardens should be a planted area providing

recreation space for the development in the Eircom lands and creating an appropriate edge condition to the formal gardens.

• Planting height and species should provide an appropriate relationship to the IMMA wall and other planting around the perimeter of the formal garden.

• The garden should have a woodland character

Associated development:• High-density 5 – 6 storey commercial and residential

development should follow the line of the protected view.• Development should address and be accessed off the

new-planted area – Eircom Gardens - with minimal vehicular access.

• Buildings should present high quality elevations to the Eircom Gardens and be seen as addressing the wider arena of the river valley and city edge – forming a grouping with Gandon’s Royal Infirmary building and the buildings proposed on the West Terrace.

• No new building should create a direct relationship withthe formal garden as this will throw off balance the relationships within the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and parkland.


Heuston Gateway: public domain: Eircom Gardens

48


existing context:a. existing views of Eircom / OPW siteprecedents for parkland:b. St. Stephen’s Green, Dublinc. Parque Poblenou, Barcelona [Ruisanchez and Vendrell]d. Parque de Santo Domingo de Bonaval [Alvaro Siza Vieira + Isabel Aguirre]

a.

b. c. d.

Documents

3.1.2 West Terrace - Dublin · 39 3.1.2 West Terrace: A new public space, the West Terrace, is proposed to the west of station, elevated over tracks. The West Terrace is part of a