Architects offer alternative to Tiernan’s Arthur’s Quay plans
A top Limerick architectural firm has presented a radical alternative to the propsed demolition of the Arthur’s Quay complex to the city planners. In a detailed submission to Limerick City Council last week, O’Connell Street architects O’Connor & Shanahan expressed “alarm” at the plans for the multi-million redevelopment of Arthur’s Quay by local developer Michael Tiernan. Instead of developing a mixed retail development, they have called on the council to build an iconic building for civic use, which would be modelled on the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. “We feel quite strongly that the proposal to build on the park should be reconsidered as this space is a valuable asset to the city which has been reinforced by the removal of the railings in recent weeks,” stated architects Robert Shanahan and Michael O’Connor.
The architects requested that their submission should be considered when the final City Centre Strategy is drafted next year. However, the images of Mr Tiernan’s proposed redevelopment of the area have already been incorporated into the draft strategy and have been broadly welcomed by the planners.
