Sir, - I must disagree with many of the sentiments expressed by Robert O'Byrne (February 19th) and with the views of a couple of outraged letter-writers over the past week. The Four Seasons Hotel is entirely appropriate to its time and place. It stands as a monument to the crassness and nouveau riche aspirations of today's Irish society. Surely this is exactly what most Irish people want? Just listen to how we are adopting American language usage and how we embrace American lifestyles. So why not welcome the architectural creation of a Chinese-American architect who studied the area and delivered a superb example of US west coast architecture to a prime site in Dublin - a Dublin 4 nowadays, it appears, largely populated by people from outside Dublin or from outside Ireland? After all, where were all the local objectors to the plan when it was on view at Dublin Corporation's planning office?
We should thank the RDS for once again selling off part of the family silver to enrich our built environment This is a building entirely in line with prevailing Dublin 4 taste. Look at the mishmash of hybrid domestic "architecture" along Clyde Lane, adjoining Herbert Park. This is surely from the same school as the "contemporised" Georgian-Victorian vocabulary of the Four Seasons. And like the Four Seasons, it does not come cheap.
Look at the vulgarity and pretentiousness of the Sweepstakes flats. Or the horrible treatment of a solid Victorian house adjoining the Bank of Ireland on Pembroke Road opposite Jury's Hotel. And just wait for the demolition and replacement of an entire Victorian terrace opposite the American Embassy shortly. Surely in such an architectural environment the Four Seasons is in very good company?
As for Robert O'Byrne bemoaning the fact that this great hotel has uPVC windows, this feature is entirely appropriate. Does he not realise that these fully-insulated, maintenance-free windows are a national institution? Travel the length and breadth of Ireland and you will see them defacing period buildings everywhere. So all Irish visitors to Ballsbridge will feel entirely at home as they marvel at all those wonderful neo-Georgian arched windows in glittering white.
As for the future success of this great hotel - where you can "arrive fashionably late" (whatever that means) - I can tell Mr O'Byrne right now that it will be a great addition to the balance sheet of this international hotel group. It will shortly be the place to be seen, the place to relax in sumptuous surroundings, right in the heart of fashionable and architecturally elegant Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. - Yours, etc.,
Desmond Bennett, Lennox Street, Dublin 8.