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In its details, it sought to use the historic street
pattern to reinforce a newly pedestrianised backbone
(The Fleet Street-Essex Street axis) along which one
would encounter 'a sequence of stimulating urban incidents'.
This involved introducing social magnets such as cultural
centres and housing as well as intensifying commercial
and leisure activities along the axis. A network of
lanes and arcades cutting thorough existing blocks,
a new curved street, residential courtyards and a new
bridge (The Poddle Bridge) all served to increase permeability
to the city at large.
Three new public squares were crucial to the plan, acting
as hearts punctuating the East-West pedestrian route.
Each was to be created out of derelict space and corresponded
to a different function. Temple Bar Square was envisaged
as primarily commercial and retail while Meeting House
Square was seen as a performance-based, cultural space
with Market Square serving as a residential enclave
of heritage. Each would lend a distinctive atmosphere
to its respective surrounding streets.
The pedestrian-priority East-West axis along with a
secondary meandering route and a network of north-south
'spines', traffic calming measures and a ban on on-street
parking would encourage a free flow of people through
the bustling quarter.
Both the visible and invisible heritage of the area
were considered crucial to its residential and tourism
roles. There would be a bias against demolition with
listed buildings being conserved and the existing range
of architecture enriched by imaginative modern infill
buildings. Modern street furniture would be designed
to be unique to Temple Bar yet rooted in historical
and visual associations.
Mixed use was the aspiration, both between buildings
in the same block and within the buildings themselves.
This lively mix of uses would ensure colourful diversity
and encourage around-the-clock vitality on the streets
themselves. Commercial and retail activity on the ground
floor coexisting with residential accommodation or cultural
activity .on the upper floors.
This initial Framework Plan was further rounded out
in 1992 with the publication by TBP of a broad-ranging
Development Programme, which established a fleshed out
framework in terms of the architectural, cultural, retail,
residential and marketing programmes for the area.
See above
TBP intended to maintain and develop the existent mix
of cultural activities within Temple Bar; to develop
a number of major cultural centres; to develop facilities
for small cultural businesses; to adopt a public art
initiative; to promote the area as a unique quarter
of cultural diversity and to source the capital funding
for these cultural objectives.
It was TBP's intention to consolidate and expand the
existing 'alternative' retail uses of the area and encourage
further investment by small businesses into the area.
A priority would be given to unusual retail uses.
The development programme would conduct a marketing
campaign to communicate the following key messages about
Temple Bar:
- That it is unique
- That it is alternative
- That it is a community
- That it is an area of economic growth
- And that it has a leading creative role
In addition the Development Programme set out the commitment
of TBP to respecting the archaeological significance
of the area and to conducting a policy of environmental
sensitivity.
Overall the Programme would rollout in two phases:
Phase 1 (1991-1996) centred mainly on the area to the
east of Parliament Street and Phase 2 (1996-2000) involving
the archaeologically important land to the west of Parliament
Street, most of which was originally owned by Dublin
Corporation.
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