Dundee Waterfront proposals approved subject to conditions
June 20 2017
Fronting Riverside Esplanade to the south and Earl Grey Place to the north the Cooper Cromar designed buildings will be arrayed around a shared parking courtyard, drawing criticism from some of a diminution of the emerging V&A Museum, lack of street interaction and an absence of character.
In dismissing these concerns the committee did push for some tweaks however, stating: “The initial submission gave rise to some concerns associated with the areas of blank wall to the north elevation of the west office block. Understandably the plant based function located within this section of frontage does not lend itself to active frontages.
“The architect has indicated a willingness to provide amended plans to alleviate these concerns which continue the architectural language/materials of the upper floors down to ground level. This matter will be the subject of a planning condition and with this in mind, the elevation shall be improved.”
Other conditions include the creation of a public art project, details of vehicle access points, street lighting alterations and CCTV placement.
6 Comments
#1 Posted by A Local Pleb on 20 Jun 2017 at 12:30 PM
I'm all for the continued redevelopment of Dundee's waterfront but I think there is the real risk of in the future looking back and seeing a missed opportunity to make something with real character and presence. Mundane banality is not an option!
#2 Posted by D to the R on 20 Jun 2017 at 13:25 PM
Dreadful - Look at the width of streets? It's Dundee not Santa Monica ?!
#3 Posted by Brian Cox on 21 Jun 2017 at 12:39 PM
Meanwhile schemes across Dundee promoted by the private sector have to reach the "high design aesthetic" stated has to be achieved by DCC Planning. One rule for DCC and another for the idigenous private sector developers.
#4 Posted by Mr Boring on 21 Jun 2017 at 14:20 PM
We need to be investing in the materiality of our buildings to bring quality and draw relationships with the character of our cities. These proposals seem to be the usual mix from a generic, commercial pallette.
#5 Posted by nomoregrey on 21 Jun 2017 at 19:30 PM
"sssss...mmmmeeh..pretty basic yo know...ayeee" (Limond, Brian. 2013)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oogJcFy90cI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oogJcFy90cI
#6 Posted by Alexander Fraser on 30 Jun 2017 at 10:25 AM
Sorry to say that these elevations give no real sense of place or quality. Remember this is the east coast of Scotland and wide streets plus totalitarian design have no place here. It was not by accident that gables faced the sea in older towns and villages. The heights of these blocks will overwhelm the V & A and I can only think the plot ratios are driven by solely commercial considerations. Get a grip Dundee. You don't have to be cowed by some out of town developers and their lackey architects.
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