Guinness Quarter Urban Design Strategy

Guinness Quarter, Dublin Urban Design Strategy Woody Hanson

Study Area

in

Context

Site Opportunities + Assets

Location

• Tourism magnet • Distinct industrial heritage • potential for waterfront redevelopment • Gateway into city from Heuston Station • Existing + proposed public

• • • •

transportation infrastructure

• Existing urban form is coarse urban grain + high density • Located near major economic drivers + employment hubs

Dublin, Ireland Diageo Guinness Brewing Site Within the Liberties Area West of City Centre, South of the River Liffey, North of former Grand Canal Docks • Bisected by James + Thomas Streets

1

Study Area Design Process

Overall Site Goals • • • • • • •

Consolidate Guinness lands + develop links across Thomas Street Revive, protect + highlight the sites distinct industrial heritage + cultural assets Provide tourism infrastructure Provide a residential hub for employees of the surrounding business + service centres Emphasize vistas toward monumental buildings + the River Increase permeability + connectivity through the industrial site Establish a safe + enjoyable public realm along main corridors (station, river + brewery)

2

Study Area Design Process

Evolution

of the

Urban Design Strategy

• Consolidate Guinness lands • Permeate existing street pattern through the vacated land based on the of Victoria Quay, the historic urban form of Grand Canal Docks + corridors to the Guinness Storehouse

historic route direct tourist

Life • Develop

public realm around existing landmarks

Space • Connect

series of public squares through pedestrian walkways that create vistas

Buildings • Develop block

form to encase a pedestrian network

3

Study Area Design Process

Design Scheme Results • • • • • • • • •

Greater pedestrian accessibility New north-south linkages New residential hub + contributing community New commercial centre Emphasized views of existing site assets Pedestrian walkways across Liffey River Enhanced public realm along Liffey River Increased permeability through the site New cultural quarter to attract tourism

resources

4

Site Goals + Precedents

Grand Canal, Dublin

Overall Site Goals • Revive historic form + the Grand Canal Docks • Establish quarter

cultural focused

and on

High-quality modern infill buildings that fit in with the surrounding

presence of

the

industrial relics

tourism

area’s

industrial and brewing heritage

• Initiate key linkages from the new Guinness Quarter to Grand Canal Park, the Liffey River + Heuston Station

Excise Walk, Dublin Pedestrianised commercial corridor with active frontage below high-quality residential blocks Gasworks, Belfast Water

feature

+

industrial

sculpture

relating

to

historic use of site

5

Urban Design Strategy Layers

New Development

Public Realm

Design Overview The

Road Network

new development in the Guinness

Quarter will rise from the form of the historic Grand Canal Docks which ran alongside the Guinness Storehouse. The former docklands will become a new public realm enclosed by highly-active frontage

+

tourism uses. The pedestrian

zone spills out to the north into a park along Thomas

Street, to the south into parkland along what was the Grand Canal + to the east into a walk through the Guinness Lands + Storehouse. A ring road surrounds the docklands development to allow vehicular movement

but traffic calming measures will encourage walking, biking

+

Guinness Lands

the use of public transportation.

3

9

pm

am

Historic Map Noon

6 Orientation & Shadows

100

ft

250

ft

Urban Design Strategy

Existing Proposed Bus Tram Train

Building Heights

Ground Floor Land Use

1-2 Storeys

7-8 Storeys

3-4 Storeys

9+ Storeys

5-6 Storeys

250

ft

Upper Floors Land Use Residential

Industrial

Commercial

Hotel

Cultural

Design Overview Although transportation infrastructure already exists throughout the Liberties Area, proposed tram extension along Thomas Street + bus systems servicing the Grand Canal Docks area will substantially increase the foot traffic in the Guinness Quarter. The heights of the new buildings will be 2-4 storeys shorter than the Storehouse so as not to detract from the most important monument in the site. Ground level of the new development will be almost entirely commercial use + the upper floors will be hotel rooms to support the tourism interest in this cultural district.

7 Public Transportation

100

ft

Urban Design Strategy

Features

of

New Development

• Draw foot Canal Park • New

traffic from Heuston Station, Thomas Street,

+ Grand

iconic Guinness cultural centre featuring an iconic pint-shaped

facade

• Highly

active frontage of shops

+

hotel space above to extract full

economic value of area tourism

• Urban

form directly relating to historic route of Grand

Canal Docks

8 Aerial Rendering

100

ft

Urban Design Strategy

Section

thru

Guinness Walk

100

ft

Cathedral Park • Establish link across James Street to connect Guinness Lands • Mixture of hard + soft landscaping that emphasises vistas toward the Storehouse, new development + cathedral • Start of stone pavement to run throughout the entire site + guide tourists

Guinness Walk • Establish a pedestrian

oriented environment through the use of cobbled pedestrian

crossing points

• Stone paving infill where street currently exists to guide visitors through Guinness Lands • Introduce curated public art projects of Guinness advertising along brick walls of brewery buildings

Diageo Square • Animate blank brick wall of existing Guinness building with lighting system • Highlight areas of movement and resting with varied paving system, landscaping, lighting + street furniture • Outdoor seating for restaurants, cafes, and outdoor movies projected along wall

Central Canal • Water feature representing the Grand Canal Docks • Establish public square surrounding the water feature with elements of public art • Street furniture to encourage rest + gathering within the square • Provide clear pedestrian route toward Grand Canal Docks Park, Guinness Walk + Cathedral Park Detail Site Plan

100

ft

9

Urban Design Strategy

Perspective

view

North

along

Grand Canal Place

10 Perspective

view west along

Guinness Walk