|
The wholesale nature of the Markets area is going through a process of transformation. Inner-city congestion, logistical changes and the need for centres of distribution with direct access to national and regional routes is forcing a re-examination of locational criteria among a number of major firms in the area. At the same time, the under-utilisation of the Fish Market in its current form calls for a reappraisal of the nature of the present facility and presents the opportunity for its relocation within a new, modern premises geared more towards the promotion of fish produce and situated in the Markets area. These changes call for public and private interventions to harness the potential of the markets area and to create a vibrant new retail market, with a consolidated wholesale provision aimed at the needs of the inner-city restaurant / catering / food / retail trades as the focus of a new city quarter. Building on the creation of a vibrant, new retail food market, which is one of the objectives contained in the Brief for Consultants (March 2001), an opportunity now exists to rejuvenate this part of the city to create sustainable employment, leisure, cultural and residential opportunities.
If in addition to this dynamic change of use of the wholesale markets - a phenomenon now normal in most European cities due to problems of transport and access in expanding urban settlements - we add the construction of LUAS, the light rail system carrying up to 7,000 passengers per hour along Chancery Street, then it is obvious that new perspectives for the area are now due.
It is obvious that the generator of activity and its consequent urban form has been for many decades, or even centuries, the wholesale markets in this area of Dublin. Any radical change of use would weaken Dubliners sense of identity of their city so the initial consideration is to find a similar use, and exchange the present warehouses and storage sheds for a form representative of a certain shift of emphasis to accommodate a similar activity.
Any observation of European market towns and cities would show us a market place, or square, many of which would contain a covered market somewhere within this space. In many cases this covered space would be the undercroft of the meeting hall of the town councillors or an Exchange providing facilities to draw up the contracts made in the market place. Thus we find squares with
market halls within this space. Here in Dublin we have the market without the square. Given that the surrounding sites of the Vegetable and Fruit Market are generally warehouse sheds, as well as the underused Fish Market, it seemed that a unique opportunity existed to create the Market Square as a dignified setting for the Market Hall itself. Apart from introducing a metropolitan space, equivalent to Montjoy Square, and thus re-introduce a well known urban form characteristic of Dublin City, it will act as an iconic reference for citizens half way between O'Connell Street and the rejuvenated Smithfield.
The present distance between O'Connell Street and Smithfield of 1,700 m is too long for a mental and physical connection between Smithfield and the economic and social activity that is slowly moving up river. This new square would provide the idea stepping stone between the two.
Another important layer of activity was long ago generated by the building of the Four Courts in 1786 by the architect James Gandon. There is therefore an interest of the legal sector in this area for both large and small office accommodation.
By concentrating the repair to the urban fabric around the existing Fruit and Vegetable Market, the rest of the area with its rows of two storey dwellings housing strong local communities, Municipal housing blocks and certain courtyard activities need not to be disturbed. Decisions on any further changes can be taken when the time comes.
|
