Smithfield Tower

Smithfield Tower 

The best view in Dublin,

Built in 1895 for The Jamson's Whisky distillery, the malthouse chimney was abandoned in 1970 and lay forgotten for many years until becoming a 360-degree observation deck in 1999 that offered an aerial view of the city skyline. Standing at a height of sixty metres, it is among the tallest buildings in Dublin. From St. Stephens Green to Croke Park to Glasnevin Cemetery, you can view the entire skyline of the city, and on a clear day, you can even see the Moorne mountains to the north. The observation deck is reached after a staggering 297 steps of climbing. 

"Patrick Geddes, one of the 20th century's greatest town planners, always maintained that the only way to get a sense of a city and the network of relationships between its buildings and spaces is to rise above the rooftops"(2000).With the aid of Dublin Bay, which encircles the city to the east, and the  River Liffey, which runs through the city from east to west, you can solve the puzzle and gain a precise sense of where you are geographically.Unobstructed views of Dublin are rare; the Chimney's walls are five feet thick, which makes it strong enough to support the new u-shaped observation deck.Inspired by an airport control tower, the  glazed observation tower was built in the Netherlands, by a group of Dutch Architects.

To appreciate the tower it helps to understand its location and history, Smithfield plaza, the defined space was first mapped in 1756, it was a livestock and market space.The Plaza is one of biggest open paved spaces in all of Dublin.The lack of large public spaces in the city is due to the British rule in the 18th century, who disapproved of the creation of sizable public areas where people may congregate.The space was redeveloped in the 1980s, it went from being a light Industrial area to a residential and hospitality district. The interesting mix of new and old places is enjoyed by a varied range of residents. The range of rented properties, both public and private, that have been produced via incremental development maintains the area's socioeconomic diversity and interest, even though the relationship between the built environment and the square may not be flawless from an urban design standpoint, it has room for growth.

Dublin's Smithfield Tower captures numerous aspects of the city's past, including its expansion, shifts in the economy, and architectural movements from the 18th century to  present.It demonstrates how an architectural historic building used in the right manor that has opened to the public that would have otherwise be closed to the public. Our skyline is something to be proud of, and we should be able to see the city from every viewpoint like the  observation deck  at Smithfield Tower. Currently, multi-story car parks  like St. Stephens Green and Parnell St offer some of Dublin's only and greatest views of the city which just shows the lack of view points and how buildings are built with views not in mind. A view is functional while also making a building, allowing a building to connect to its surroundings. 

 When you think of other leading  cities you think of the view points that stick with you that allow you to engage with the city in a different way, such as the Eiffel tower in Paris, the Tv tower in Prague and the Empire State Building, it allows a monument to be functional and use its height as an advantage. Some would argue Dublin's grey skyline would not be up there as the most beautiful but to be given an opportunity to engage with the city and see it grow for better or for worse.  

A local spot to check out when visiting The Smithfield Tower is The Little Cactus, a local hang out spot with great coffee and food, you can also shop in their vintage clothing shop in the back.Thanks for reading as always,

By Eva @Dublin Subcultured.

#Exploring Dublin

 

Photo I took at the top of The St Stephen’s Green car park. 

Reference -1-Dramatic observations (2000) The Irish Times. Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/dramatic-observations-1.256474 (Accessed: 14 March 2024).