Smithfield Square: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:45, 18 November 2008

An old horse market in Dublin, Ireland.

Redeveloped as a public open space as part of the re-generation of inner city Dublin

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<googlemap version="0.9" lat="53.348822" lon="-6.278172" type="satellite" zoom="16" width="300" height="250"> 53.348702, -6.27825 Smithfield Square, Dublin </googlemap>

Rationale

The site was chosen as a case study for several reasons:

1. The site was once a market square used for trading. Ireland has many towns with centrally located defunct market squares. They are now primarily used as car parks but have obvious potential as civic open spaces. While a small number of these spaces have been redeveloped in the past, Smithfield is a more recent example of this development. There is a huge sink of urban open space in Ireland yet to be tapped.

2. From a planning and development point of view there are some interesting aspects to this development. In the early 1990s the Temple Bar area of Dublin was redeveloped. There are similarities between Temple Bar and Smithfield square prior to redevelopment: both are centrally located sites; both were run down and unfahionable with many derelict buildings; both had alot of natural character. The Temple Bar redevelopment is generally considered a success, giving the area and its surroundings an economic boost. Traditionally the northside of Dublin where Smithfield is located, has been seen as the poor relation to the southside, where Temple Bar is located. The redevelopmaent of Smithfield was a step towards redressing this imbalance and giving that part of inner city Dublin a much needed boost.

3. An international design competition was held for the design of the square. This is a very early example of a design competition for a public open space in this country.

Think about it from the view of another educator/student in a different country. Why should I use this case study in my teaching/education?

Author's perspective

What theoretical or professional perspective do you bring to the case study?

The redevelopment of the square is one part of a larger regeneration scheme; the Historic Area Regeneration Project. As a student of Landscape Architecture I would like to examine the success of the square and its contribution to the overall regeneration scheme.

Landscape and/or urban context

Biogeography, cultural features, overall character, history and dynamics

Illustration: Map; sketches; short descriptive analyses

Cultural Features: To the north, Georgian period houses face on to the square. The Irish Distillers building is set back from the eastern edge of the square. Its thirty eight metre high chimney stack is a dominant visual element. Further to the east is the old markets area, while the Four Courts lie to the south.

Overall Character: The new design maintains the open aspect of the old market. The original cobble stones have been re-laid, this along with the surrounding urban fabric gives the site a historic feel. However the square lacks coherence due to the different conditions and styles of the surrounding buildings.

Hitory and Dynamics: Smithfield Square is located in a historic area of Dublin, on the outer edge of the city centre. The area has been traditionally unfashionable, with much commercial and industrial development.

Cultural/social/political context

Brief explanation of culture, political economy, legal framework

The surrounding area is dominated by:

The markets area. This area has historic market buildings, unsociable working hours and alot of activity, with loads coming in at all hours. Early drinking houses have a long association with this area.

Housing. The housing in the area is largely made up of social housing. The older units are small two storey terrace houses. To the north of the the site there are medium sized blocks of social housing.

The Four Courts. This is the largest courts complex in the country. There is a lot of movement associated with it, from court employees and the legal profession to the transport of prisoners.

The administration and development of the area is the remit of Dublin City Council. Illustration: Bullet points, image, background notes

History

How did the area/project/plan at the focus of the case study evolve?

Illustration: Table or time line

The space was developedas a cattle market in the seventeenth century. An existing river, the Bradoge, was channelled underground and still runs beneath the site today. The cattle market was moved from the square in 1863, leading to a decline in the area, thuogh it still functioned as a market, selling hay, up to 1972. With the world wide recession of the late 1970s and 1980s the whole area degenerated, with many buildings becoming derelict. The Square was then used as a surface car park. In 1995 Dublin City Council initiated the Historic Area Rejuvenation Plan.

Smithfield 1787

Smithfield 1847