Sir, The Hilton Hotel Group is focussing attention on Dublin. This attention is focused on five listed buildings adjacent to College Green. Here the architects propose to demolish some of the buildings and build a modern structure while retaining the facades of the remaining buildings. The entire re development will then be crowned with a huge bungalow. Good Grief Will we ever learn?
Around the corner the Hilton have the perfect alternative. Like recent developments Hawkins House (which must be nearing the end of its life as an office block) could be re born, minus its top three floors as a bedroom block. In front of Hawkins House lingers a site which is ripe for development. This site includes the Corn Exchange building which would provide a high profile entrance on the river. The remainder of the site to be re developed for conference rooms, bars, etc. This part of the development to be bridged at first floor to Hawkins House.
This would achieve four objectives - (1) Maintain the integrity of the listed buildings at College Green. (2) Provide the Corn Exchange with the elegant focus it deserves. (3) Re develop a semi derelict plot of the city centre and (4) by removing the top three floors of Hawkins House relieve the city centre of one of its worst 1960s eyesores.
The other two blots on our landscape - O'Connell Bridge House and Liberty Hall could be dealt with at a future date. Would this solution be too foreign for an Irish problem? - Yours, etc.,
Fitzwilliam Court,
Dublin 6.