Madam, - Garry Keegan of TASCQ is correct to say (May 21st) that the Howley Harrington framework plan for Temple Bar proposed a new lease of life for East Essex Street. The report also highlighted the good human scale and historic street pattern of Temple Bar, and the need to treasure, protect and enhance these qualities (as was achieved by Temple Bar Properties and Group '91 architects over a decade ago).
As primary author of the framework plan, I welcome the revamp of the Clarence Hotel in principle, particularly in relation to the improvement of East Essex Street, but I would have serious reservations about the scale and visual impact of the proposed overall development, which breaks from the wonderful fine-grained urban nature of Temple Bar and the scale of the Liffey quays between Grattan and O'Connell bridges. - Yours, etc,
SEÁN HARRINGTON, Seán Harrington Architects, Capel Street, Dublin 1.