4.0 Public Spaces and Associated Development The development must address appropriately the public spaces immediately adjoining it: the River Walkway and Parkgate Street. The development is also highly visible from the wider context of the City Quays, Heuston Square and the Tivoli Gardens (Croppies Acre). The quality of materials and design must be of the highest standard and appropriate to the high profile of the site. The public space created within the site in option 1 should provide a secure and quiet space easily accessible from the River Walkway and Parkgate Street. This space will provide an amenity and access area for both commercial and residential development. The space links into an existing public space within the existing Parkgate Court development. public domain model Parkgate Court, Parkgate Street public spaces public spaces and accociated development
5.0 Building Heights and Views One of the principal aims of the Heuston Gateway Regeneration Strategy and Development Framework Plan is to strengthen the connection between the Phoenix Park and the city. This is achieved by improved access particularly for pedestrians and cyclists and by maintaining visual connections. The principal landmark of the park is the Wellington monument. The visual connection of this structure with the City Quays is considered essential to maintain a connection between the park and the city. The Hickeys site is on the line of view of 2 visual connections: 1. Guinness UDV Brewery from Chesterfield Avenue. 2. City Quays to Park. Buildings in option 1 should therefore be no greater than five storeys (residential) or 4.5 storeys (commercial). Development must not interrupt the view of the monument from the Quays or the view of the Guinness UDV Brewery from Chesterfield Avenue. A landmark building, option 2, might add to the visual connection and should be the subject of a visual impact assessment. A high quality public building in this location would locate the Heuston Gateway from the city. The number of tall buildings in the Heuston area is to be restricted to three structures as described in Part 2: Regeneration Strategy and Development Framework Plan. The locations for these structures are carefully chosen to avoid blocking views and to create a controlled massing around the station. The Hickeys site is not considered appropriate for a tall building. views along liffey river, aerial view, model view visual connections high buildings building heights and views
6.0 Connections 6.1 Tivoli Gardens to Sarah Bridge: Riverside Walkway The location on the North Bank of the River is part of the proposed pedestrian/cycle connection from the Tivoli Gardens (Croppies Acre) to Sarah Bridge along the river. Any development on the Hickeys site should accommodate public access along the river frontage in line with the Z9 zoning along the river. The walkway along the river at Hickeys would specifically link the North City Quays at the Heuston Bridge (Luas) with the recent development at Parkgate Place. This section of the walkway should relate directly across to the proposed River Terrace of Heuston Station. Links should be created between the Riverside Walkway and the external space within the development, connecting through to Parkgate Street. 6.2 riverside walkway Heuston Station to Phoenix Park The link between Heuston Square and the Phoenix Park is an essential element in the connection of the Phoenix Park with the city. The route over Heuston Bridge around Hickeys and onto Parkgate Street is currently unanimated and compromised. The frontage of the development on the Hickeys Site must be vibrant with high quality pedestrian and cycle provision. Bus stops at this location must also be provided for as necessary. The development should guide pedestrians into Parkgate Street and on up to the Park entrance. Transparency of the ground floor units and breaks in building blocks will allow views to Parkgate Street from the station and vice versa, strengthening the existing relationship. heuston station to phoenix park link visual connections existing riverside condition existing boundary condition with Parkgate Street connections
7.0 Sustainability Strategy The Development Framework Plans for all sites in the Heuston Gateway should incorporate a for appropriate development. All developments should follow the basic guidelines and recommendations for sustainable urban design as described in this section. The is in line with the National Sustainable Development Strategy of the Government of Ireland, The Strategic Planning Guidelines for the Greater Dublin Area (2000), DTO: A Platform for Change and the Dublin City Development Plan 1999. The aims of the for the Hickeys site should be: to create an appropriate balance between dense urban development and preservation or creation of green amenity areas to encourage development of high density mixed use areas for living and working to integrate the large underused site into the urban grain of Dublin to reduce car dependency and provide efficient public transport to protect water quality and air quality to control noise pollution to manage waste and recycling to preserve natural landscapes and ecosystems to protect architecturally or historically significant structures The is described in the areas of 1. Density and Mixed Use 2. Transport 3. Environmental Quality 4. Conservation elderly and families. Mixed use areas should allow synergies to be developed between non residential uses. High density housing should be encouraged. Housing design should address issues of: accessibility adaptability lifetime use energy use natural ventilation water conservation communal facilities waste management Housing designs should be assessed using BREEAM assessment method of EcoHomes and materials specified using the BRE s Green Guide to Housing Specification. Social and affordable housing should be integrated into the development to encourage social heterogeneity. Private developers, local authorities, informed design teams and approved housing bodies should be encouraged to work together to provide appropriate standards in design, construction and provision. The complete environment of the housing should be fully designed and implemented. The developers should be encouraged to use new systems and techniques to allow greater output, higher standards and reduce site time. 7.1 density and mixed use The Development Framework Plan aims to reduce urban sprawlby: remodelling of public spaces and amenity development of vacant infill sites regeneration of industrial sites increased density This is in line with section 14.1.1 of the Dublin City Development Plan 1999, Managing Intensification and Change: A Strategy for Dublin Building Height, and the DOE Guidelines for Planning Authorities on Residential Density, 1999. The Development Framework Plan promotes mixed use development with close proximity of housing, jobs, services and amenities. Development should create an attractive and vibrant environment that appeals to a wide range of people including the social and affordable housing, Dublin [Urban Projects]; housing for elderly, Amsterdam [KCAP]; terraced housing, Rotterdam; housing, Helsinki [Arrak Architects] housing, Dornbirn, Austria [Herman Kaufmann]; terraced housing and apartments, Rotterdam [KCAP]
7.2 transport The Development Framework Plan for the Heuston Gateway aims to reduce dependency on the car and promote use of public transport, cycling and walking. The high density, mixed use developments proposed around the station will reduce distances travelled between home, workplace and services. Cars currently dominate the area creating a compromised environment around the Hickeys site site due to: air and noise pollution tiredness and stress danger of accidents visual disamenity In line with the Dublin City Development Plan 1999 a series of nodal spaces across the area are proposed linked by a network of pedestrian priority routes. It is intended that these will improve accessibility for visitors and will expand the sphere of tourism activity out beyond traditional areas of interest. The Development Framework Plan aims to integrate the Hickeys site into the tourist and recreational mapping of the city. car park, Heilbronn, Germany [Mahler Gunster Fuchs] cycle lane, Copenhagen pedestrian, Dublin Transport and parking policies should be designed to promote public transport use. Park and ride schemes at out of town locations should reduce the numbers of cars being brought into the city. Initiatives such as car-sharing should be investigated. New and improved public transport services should be introduced as necessary with well designed timetables and tariff structures, and increased safety and security. The Hickeys site is currently well serviced. The street along the northern edge of the Hickeys site should be designed to give less space to the car and increased space for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport. Areas for different modes of transport should be clearly defined using materials and sectional changes. Cycling is a sustainable form of urban transport due to: quality of life and health issues independence, speed and versatility physical size of transport mode ability to integrate into all environments without dominating or causing an adverse impact Adequate provision of cycle tracks and parking should be provided. Initiatives such as bicycle loan schemes should be investigated. An appropriate balance between pedestrian and vehicular traffic should be created. Communal space in residential and commercial areas should be detailed to create pedestrian dominant areas with controlled access for cars.
7.3 environmental quality The strategy for maintaining a high quality and sustainable environment in the Heuston Gateway generally is described in terms of energy management, water management and green spaces. 7.3.1 energy management The developments in the Heuston Gateway should aim to reduce energy consumption by: high density development site design orientation to ensure optimum passive solar gain use of a rational energy supply and efficient use high levels of insulation and thermal capacity in building fabric Proposals for sites such as the Hickeys site option 1 should apply for grants and award schemes such as the House of Tomorrow Research, Development and Demonstration Programme (RD&D). This programme is administered by the Irish Energy Centre under the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme of the National Development Plan. Proposals of a significant scale are encouraged. Model projects for new build, refurbishment or retrofit of housing, demonstrating superior energy design and technology implementation in homes or groups of homes under real operating conditions with the potential for market influence and replication are suitable for consideration in this scheme. 7.3.2 water management Groundwater and surface water should be protected and waste water minimized. Diverting surface water to reservoirs within green spaces can have the following positive effects: improvement in air quality by helping evaporation and therefore increasing air humidity improvement in microclimate aiding slow soaking and restoration of natural water table improvement in social and visual amenity Flooding risk should be minimized by retaining permeable ground areas and improving surface drainage. It is essential to avoid loss of soil permeability by: maximising areas of green roofs use of permeable surfaces in car parks promotion of grassed areas in courtyards Rainwater collection can be an economical solution to applications such as toilet flushing, washing machines, cleaning and production processes. Rainwater recovery systems should be used in all developments. The Potsdamer Platz development in central Berlin has 17000 sq.m of planted roof and cisterns collecting water used for toilet flushing, plant irrigation and external pools. Water is treated by bio-chemical purification. External pools can add character and improve the microclimate in urban developments. The natural river banks along the Liffey should be preserved or restructured as necessary. 7.3.3 green spaces The Development Framework Plan for the Heuston Gateway promotes: preservation of open spaces protection of plant life biodiversity regeneration of river banks The Development Framework Plan for the Hickeys site option 1 contains park areas within the site and along the river. The provision of green spaces is considered essential for the following reasons: to increase air water content absorption of CO2 and release of O2 absorption of dust regulation and regeneration of natural water balance natural filtration of water absorption of sound positive physical and psychological effects provision of social and leisure space economic opportunities preservation of natural environment, wildlife and plant conservation Meadow areas in gardens and parks should be promoted to encourage a wide variety of wild flowers, grasses and wildlife. Courtyards and open spaces should be green and used for energy and water conservation, waste management and amenity. rainwater recovery system: Potsdamer Platz, Berlin [masterplan, Renzo Piano] smart facades: offices, Athens [Meletitiki/A.N. Tombazis and Associates Architects Ltd]
7.4 conservation The structures on the site including the enclosing wall and Georgian house are protected. The owners have commissioned and submitted a conservation report. The consultants consider that Dublin City Council should carry out a separate assessment to review the conservation status. This should take into account the existing report. Much of the potential of the site, in terms of permeability and efficient use will be lost if the enclosing wall is untouchable. The Georgian House and other structures should be preserved only if they can be proved to be exceptional examples of their kind. The existing buildings fall into the following categories: Industrial Structure Enclosing Stone Wall Buildings - Printworks Buildings - Georgian House Buildings - Arch industrial structure enclosed stone wall buildings - georgian house