GOOD DESIGN IN HISTORIC PLACES

Save Cork City

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Good Design is timeless. It takes consideration of all that might influence a design decision to result in a refinement and humility that is recognisable by all. Good design in historic places is deferential to and respectful of the existing setting. It may be beneficial to make new addition identifiable from the existing historic setting but always quietly so that the overall material quality and form is not affected negatively.

Good design and the potential of our city. Image of Bruges

Design in historic places must always ask is any addition necessary where the conclusion may be no. It may also consider the removal of fabric to reveal historic material but only when the item to be removed is studied and the benefit is quantified. Restraint and humility is needed when designing in an historic landscape and this must be combined with a knowledge of the material and formal quality of the space. Design in the historic environment must treat the existing materials as antiquities and with the greatest of respect..

Newport Street Gallery Caruso St.John

New design is only required to facilitate the needs and uses of modern life and repair and maintenance may be appropriate over new development. Design in the historic environment is a specialist art and the result of intervention can be judged as a science and is not subjective. Good and bad design in the historic setting can be identified and quantified and recognised easily.

Alvaro Siza I

‘A city’s conserved historic core can differentiate that city from competing locations, branding it nationally and internationally, thus helping the city to attract investment and talented people.’
‘Heritage anchors people to their roots, builds self-esteem and restores dignity.’

from The Economics of Uniqueness - by the World Bank

“The Save Cork City Solution document ‘Potential Cork’ provides a detailed framework for a viable and sustainable solution to flood relief in Cork. It represents a truly considerate opportunity for the city."

Dutch (National) Flood Protection Programme
(Programmadirectie Hoogwaterbescherming)

Erik Kraaij - Flood Protection Deputy Director

“installing cut-off walls and a groundwater dewatering system at Cork is an experiment in separating two interdependent surface water and groundwater systems, which is likely to fail"
Ground and Groundwater Conditions at Cork
Implications for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme

Anthony Beese BSc PhD PGeo CompIEI

With a view to giving rivers more space, they should consider where possible the maintenance and/or restoration of floodplains, as well as measures to prevent and reduce damage to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

An assessment of the potential adverse consequences of future floods for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.......including floodplains as natural retention areas, the effectiveness of existing man-made flood defence infrastructures (our Dams), the position of populated areas (our City), areas of economic activity (our City) and long-term developments including impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

The OPW Walls scheme "could potentially damage the ability of the city to realise its obvious riverside potential and negatively impact on the attractiveness of the city as a location for inward investment and tourisn."

Cork Chamber of Commerce, Irish Examiner, 2014

"The beauty of the Quays is one of Cork's assets which should be jealously guarded"

Cork Town Planning Association & Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1925