public realm in the city centre

8/3/2019 Public Realm in the City Centre

1/22

The PublicRealm In

Guidelines fordesign,

implementationand maintenance

"5b.Rdc,sChORCdCORKC O R P O ~ A n O N

the CityCentre


2/22

. . . ' THE PUBLIC RAlM IN THECITY 'C ENTRE

Contents

Public Realm Committee

Bo..Rdo..sChoRCaJ

COR KCORPORATION

Mr. Brendan Keating,Mr. L1am FI1Zgerald,Mr. Neil Hegarty,Mr. Tony Fleming,Mr. Michael O'Brien.Mr. Pat Ledwidge,Ms. Ann Bogan ,Ms. Patric la Moran,

Assistant City ManagerCity EngineerCity ArchitectSenior Engineer RoadsSenior Engineer EnvironmentSenior Executive PlannerExecutive PlannerAssistant Staff Officer


3/22

. THE PUBlIC REALM IN THE CITY 'CENTRE

I. Introduction

Bo.Rdo.sChORCM

COR KCORP ORATION

This report presents the recommendations ofthe Public Realm Committee which has meton a num ber of occasions over the past yearThe purpose of the C om mitt ee was to dev elopguidelines for the design and implementat ionof pro ject s in the Public Realm (see definitionin Section 2).The committee was formed to submit theseguidelines to the City Centre Partnership, apublic/private sector body set up to devise apartnership mechanism to provide advisoryinputs into the implementation of the H is toricCentre Action Plan . The partnership at presentincludes representation from the Chamber ofCommerce, the Cork Business Association andthe Cork Corporation .The committee consisted of the Architects'Dept. , Engineering Depts., and the TownPlanning Department under the chairmanshipof the Assistant City Manager (EngineeringServices). This report incorporates materialdeveloped by each of these departments inaddressing the issues raised during thecommittee's deliberations.The structure of the report deals with theissues in four parts working from the generalto the particular:

BackgroundThis section outlines the policy framework,linking to other projects and the physical areacovered by the report.

Analysis of Current SituationThis section examines the present state of thePublic Realm and notes the deficiencies.

Design PrinciplesThis section explores the general design issuesencountered when implementing Public Realmprojects in Cork City and proposes a set ofprinciples to be followed.

Detailed GuidelinesThis section provides detailed guidelines onthe design, materials and layout of PublicRealm projects.The report will act as a m anual for implement -ing Public Realm projects and will del iver aconsistent approach to the Public Realm in theCity Centre. This will result in the mainte-nance of high standards and will del iver aquality environment in the City Centre.

2


4/22

2.BackgroundThis section defines w hat is meant by thePublic Realm, outlines the physical areacovered by the recommendations of this reportand describes other initiatives beingprogressed at present which will influence the implementation of this manual. Possible areasof duplication and conflict can then beidentified.

DefinitionThe Public Realm is defined as:

THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

Other initiatives which will influence theimplementat ion of this manual are nowdescribed.

Cork Historic Centre Action PlanConcern regarding the state of the PublicRealm in Cork was a signif ic ant e lement in theHistoric Centre Action Plan . This plan wasapproved by the C it y C ounc il in January 1994and its object ives are to: -

all spaces which the public have aright of access to over the full 24hours and the elements that contributeto these spaces.

This is a very wide def in it ion and for thepurposes of the report attention is focused onthose elements which Cork Corporation orother public util ities are responsible for interms of installat ion or maintenance. Thesecan be grouped under three general headingsas listed below:

Hard Surfaced Areas:footpaths, carriageways;Soft Areas:

Restore rundown historic parts of the cityand respect the architecture and historicfabric in any solutions adopted;Develop mixed functions/land uses;Produce solutions for resolving problemsrelated to the environmental impact oftraffic and improve public transport;Reintegrate the historic core into thesocial, economic and c om merc ia l life ofthe ci ty and region;Develop act ions for incorporation intothe Community Support Framework;Bring together other actors in the city.

Bo.Rdo.sChORCoJ

COR KCORPORATION

planted areas, trees; Street furniture:

signage, bollards, public l ighting, otheruti l it ies, l itter bins, seating, public art,kiosks, display panels, pavement uti l itycovers.

The guidelines contained in the report shouldoperate in the ent ire City Centre as def ined inthe City Development Plan and s ho wn inFigure 1. It is ack nowledged that it would takemany years to complete improvements in thisarea but a consistent incremental approachusing these guidelines wi 11 deliver the desiredresult.The det ai led guidelines in Section 5 belowadvocate dif ferent t reatment for dif ferentfunctional areas.

The Plan recognised that the achievement ofthe above objectives involved the attraction ofboth businesses and residents in to theHistoric Centre. On a wider level CorkCorporation has been applying similar policiesto the City Centre Area in order to attain thesame objectives. However i t is recognised thatthe achievement of these objectives involvesconvincing our clients -prospective residents,investors and customers -that the physicalenvironment will improve and that theseimprovements will occur in the short-term.

3


5/22

. THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

These considerations lead to the followingfundamental issues:

The need to adopt an hol istic view of thestudy area and promote a balancedapproach to land-use, urban transport,environmental and local communityIssues;The "essence" of the European city bothin terms of role and perfo rmance of theHistoric Centre at city, distr ict, localarea, street and building scales. This isof particular importance to urban qualityand standards in Cork relative to otherEuropean centres;Reduction of dependence on the car bypromoting public transport, cyclist andpedestrian activity in the c ity. Increasingurban densi ty is also a means ofreducing car use;Creat ing l iveable cit ies by the reintroduction of residential development in theHistoric Centre;Developing mixed uses in order to creatediverse sustainable environments whichare attractive to the urban dweller andpromote local economic activity;Enabling mechanisms involving partnerships between the public, private andvoluntary sectors in initiating, develop-ing, implementing and managing urbanregeneration projects;

Cork Urban Pilot ProjectAfter the approval of the Historic CentreAct ion Plan the Corporation implemented theEuropean funded Cork Urban Pilot Project.This pilot project had eight elements or subprojects and was the first step in theImplementation of the Historic Centre ActionPlan (See Figure 2) , Of these projects, threeare-particularly relevant to the Public Realm:

1. City Centre Partnership2. Dynamic Traffic-Management3. Market Space Cornmarket Street

The Partnership is i-mportant because it willhave an input into the implementation ofprojects and the maintenance of the PublicRealm. The other two projects wi 11 influencethe Public Realm through the act iv it ies theywi 11 promote at particular locations.

City Centre Management GroupThe City Centre Management Group was setup to oversee the implementat ion of theHistoric Centre Action Plan, The Urban PilotProject and the Designated areas/Living overthe Business Streets. This Group of seniorCorporation officials meets monthly.

Bo.Rdo.sChORCo.f

COR KCORPORATION

The development of the heritagepotential of the Historic Centre in attracting tourism activity and creat ion of jobs.

The Action Plan addressed each of theseissues, proposing coherent integrated projectsand implementation mechanisms to realisethem.Focusing on the Public Realm, the Action Planprepared a set of principles to guidedevelopments in the Public Realm. Theseprinciples are incorporated into Part 4 of thisreport which deals with the overall designprinciples to be adopted for relevant projects.

Major Initiative: Cork CityThe Major Initiative: Cork City is a series ofnine projects selected from the Historic CentreAction Plan to be implemented using thefunding available under the Operat ionalProgramme for Local Urban and RuralDevelopment. The funding will arr ive in theperiod 1995-1999. Most of it will be spent onPublic Realm improvement schemes, the mostsignificant of which is the repaving of NorthMain St and adjoining streets within theHistoric Centre (see Figure 3).

4


6/22

. . ", " '. THE PUBlICREALM IN THE,CITY CENTRE

Emmett Place ProjectOn e of the schemes in the Major Initiative:Cork City was the improvement of EmmettPlace and its evolution into a major civicspace for the city. Murray O'Laoire,Consultants, have prepared a scheme forEmmett Place under the parameters set in theHistoric Centre Action Plan. Their conclusionsare included in the Design Principles sectionof this report.

North Gate ProjectThis project concerns Corporation owned sitesat the north end of North Main Street. Urbandesign guidelines have been prepared fordevelopment on the site and a developmentconsorti um has been selected after opencompetition. It is expected that developmentwill commence by late 1996.

Designated Areas CommitteeThis committee reports to t he Cit y CentreManagement Group on matters relat ing to theDesignated Areas and Living Over theBusiness Streets. These areas could be a possi-ble source of Department funding for improve-ments to the Public Realm (as previously inShandon and Douglas Street).

Other Sources Of FundingOther sources of fundi ng are avai lable forimprovement to the Public Realm, e.g. roadallocations for improvements or payments forrei nstatements. Works carried ou t under thesebudgets should comply with the guidelinesoutlined in Section 5 below.

- : __!/ \\ --r t i r

'. "17.;..;;"; . -

.' \ .

Figure 4 fmmett Place proposal.

Bo.Rdo.sChORCaJc 0 R KCO RPORATION 5- --


7/22

. . THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

3.Analysis of Current SituationAn analysis of the Publ ic Realm in the CityCentre carr ied out for the H isto ric CentreAction Plan states:

Drawing from this it can be concluded thatthe current co ndi tio n of the Publ ic Realm isunsatisfactory due to : under financing

" Streets and public spaces in the CityCentre have suffered from long periodsof underfinancing, which has resulted inpoor standards of materials, design andmaintenance.. .. Funding for comprehensive schem es is seldo m.available andpiecemeal maintenance and reinstatement is car ri ed out on an ad hoc basisas finances allow .

lack of coherence/consistency in designand materialsuse of poor quality or inappropriatematerialspoor qual it y and piecemeal maintenanceabsence of a "Co rk" ide nt ity in thePublic Realm

Bb.Rdb.SChORCc..f lWlC 0 R K

CORPORATION

The quality of the floorscape, streetfurn iture and landscaping of many streetsdoes not properly ref lect or enhance thequality of th e buildings on them . The adhoc approach to use of surfac ingmaterials etc. has contributed 10 theerosion of urban quality. Sign posts,bollard s, coloured and textured pavingare placed with little or no regard to thesurrou nding b ui ld in gs or to the visualcontribution to the overall streetscape.The integrity of the streets, their qualityand a mb ie nce is damaged by a series offactors including:-Street fur nit ure tends to be ut il itar ian,lighting standards are frequently out ofscale and incongruous in appearancew ith the period buildings,Unnecessary clutter results from overproliferation of traffic and utility poles,traffic signals and control boxes andraised planters,Excessve and unco-ordinated traffic,directional and advertising signage,Un att ra ct iv e overhead wir es,-particularly a djacen t to heritagebu ildings,Inadequate street planting,Impact of the car, resul ting in noise andair pollution"

The H istor ic Centre Action Plan concludes:

"A co-ordinated approach is needed todeal with these problems, puttingforward guidelines for enhancing thep ubl ic realm in the Hi stori c Cenlre in away which represents the integrity of thebuilt heritage and makes the area moreattract ive for people to work, visit andlive in ."

These comments can be applied to the entireCity Centre and the following section attemptsto set down pr incipl es to gui de such a coordinated approach.

6


8/22

.THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITV CENTRE

4.Design Principles

Bo..Rdo..sCboscet

COR KCORPORAIION

The design of the Public Realm is an integralpart of a larger urban design process whichshould bring coherence and legibility to theCity Centre . It needs to be set within thecontext of the bui It envi ronment and takeaccount of the varied uses and users of publicspace: traffic and traffic management;'pedestrians; people with special needs such asthe disabled, residents and visitors etc. Thearchitectural and historic fabric of the Cityshould be respected in any solutions adopted.A set of principles to guide choice of designand materials is described below

Integrated ApproachSuch an approach considers all elements ofPublic Realm design in an integrated way,rather than treat ing each element in an ad hocfashion . Provision of underground services, forexample, is addressed at the outset rather thanallowing a situation to develop where recentlycompleted paving is dug up.Similarly, with foresight, the essentialelements of the traffic management system canbe integrated into the streetscape withoutmultiplying the number of obstructions andvisual clutter. An integrated approach requireseach actor i.e. traffic engineer, road designengineer, landscape designer, uti lity providerto consider how his/her actions will affect thestreetscape as a whole. In effect, this requiresthat one organisation, usually the local author-ity, take a co-ordinating role in the act ions ofthe others.

Unique Design for CorkA design that is uniquely Cork and portrays amodern city, aware of its past, but notimitating it slavishly.

Coherence and SimplicityMost successful places adopt a simple range ofdesign and materials in the Public Realm,often derived from the well establishedfamiliar or traditional local treatments.Complex or highly stylised schemes quicklybecome dated. They draw attention to theirown deficiencies rather than to the attractivebuildings and features that surround them . Inaddition they are usually difficult and costly toinstall and maintain.A simple robust design will, or r the otherhand, complement rather than compete withits surroundings.

Hierarchy of Streets and SpacesPublic Realm design will vary somewhatwithin a consistent framework to ref lect thefunctions of different spaces. The needs oflandmark spaces, main traffic routes, principleshopping streets, pedestrianised streets, sharedsurface streets, laneways and of historicprecincts such as those ident if ied in Chapter 9of the Historic Centre Action Plan, will differ.The Public Realm design must ref lect thisvariety while at the same time adhering to theprinciple of Coherence and Simplicity outlinedabove.

Attention to DetailHigh quality design involves paying attentionto detai l at the survey, design and construct ionstages. This avoids awkward detailing, forexample, in paving schemes, where lack ofdetai l design can result in complex cutting ofpaving material, to accommodate utility cov-ers or dropped kerbs at pedestrian crossings,with ugly and unstable results.

7


9/22

Ease of MaintenanceLack of finance and care in maintenance ofthe Pu bli c Realm is one of the principle criti-ci sms of the current situation. Ease of maintenance in both cost and ti me terms must there fore be a primary consideration in choice ofdesign and materials. There must also be aconsistent, high quality approach toreinstatements .

.THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE'CITY CENTRE

Long-term Cost Effectiveness andSustainabilityDesigns and materials must be co nsidered noto nly i n term s of thei r initial co st but also theirlong term durability .In summary , Public Realm design mu st besimple and robust : this w ill be achievedth rough the use of hig h-quality simpl econtinuous themes that facilitate maintenanceand repair and are cost effective in the longterm . -

Figure 5 Cork Streets - A Historical Note

Bo.Rdo.sChORCoJ

CO R KCORPORATION

Most of Cork's prin cipal streets in the 19thcen tury were paved w ith sto ne setts ma inly grey sandstone, sometimes mixedwith grey-green dolomite and granite.Timber setts were also used.Drainage channels were constructed ofdark grey sandstone flags, wh ile kerbswere of limestone. Footpaths where paved ,appea r to hav e been of large stone flags(probably sandstone).

Concrete flags and mass concrete replacedthe stone flags in the earlier part of the20th century. The limestone kerb s w eresti 11 being instalied well in to the 20th centu ry and were then gradual ly replaced byconcrete, although many still remain.The surfaces now being prop osed for thecity centre take some lessons from the past- both in design and choice of materi als while adapt ing them to suit modern co ndit ions.

8


10/22

THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

S-.Detailed GuidelinesThis section examines each element of thePublic Realm and proposes suitable designsand mater ia ls to be used in dif ferent locationswithin an overall co-ordinated framework.I llustrat ions are intended to show acceptable and unacceptable examples of thevarious elements.

A combination of unit paving and paved insitu mater ia ls is proposed to produce a simplepalette of mater ia ls for use in the city centre: Concrete flags; Limestone kerbs and details or

concrete kerbs; Setts;

A. SURFACES Asphalt;

Bo.RdMChORCo.f

COR KCORPORATION

The design and quality of pavements often setsthe tone of an area. In the past rectangularstone or concrete f lags were used whichcomplemented the more intricate design ofbuildings. More recent paving schemes tendto replace this neutral background with overfussy small block materials which often detractfrom, rather than enhance local character. Areturn to the earlier approach is nowadvocated for Cork's city centre.Paving in muted neutral colou rs withoutd is tracting patterns focuses atten tion onbuildings, streetscape features and people. Asimple adaptable design is also usually easierto install and maintain effectively. Paving cangive a sense of continuity to different areas,particularly where a single mater ia l is used foredges and channels e.g. l imestone kerbs are atradi tional edging mater ia l in Cork City Centre.The approach chosen reflects the guidelinesprepared by ICOMOS Ireland (InternationalCouncil on Monuments and Sites) for theD.O.E."New paved areas should use traditionalmaterials such as asphaIt, stone or concretepaving flags, with stone kerbs. Brick and"cobble lock" paving should be avoided".

Figure 6 Proposed typical city centrestreet surfaces, with asphalt carriageway,limestone or concrete channels and kerbsand concrete flagged footpaths.

in situ concrete, plain, patterned orexposed aggregate.

(A word of caution must be expressed on the "use of concrete replica setts- they are beginn ing to be used-in many towns and vil lagesthroughout the country and would certainlynot be "unique to Cork" . They are not a natural material . There is a danger that they willbecome the "cobble lock" of the '90s andthe ir widespread use in Cork might be bestavoided.)Different combinations of materials areproposed in different situations and these areout lined in Table 1.

,_ . ~ ~ .. "' - - L \ "... l .- " J~ .LL\-L -f f \\ \\

9


11/22

Table 1 Proposed surfacing materials for streets and footpaths

location Footpaths CarriagewayHistoric Core Concrete flags w ith staggered Setts or asphalt with

joints (900mmx600mm and setts used for ramps.and600mmx600mm) cross overs.Wide limestone/concrete kerbsand details (limestone to be used- in preference in all locations,if funds permit)

Main Shopping Concrete flags Asphalt ,Streets

Limestone/concrete kerbsSecondary Shopping Concrete flags/in situ concrete AsphaltStreets Concrete kerbsShared Surface Streets Concrete flags/in situ concrete Stone or concrete setts or

asphalt with setts used forLimestone edging and channels/ ramps or crossoversconcrete detai Is

Pedestrianised Streets Concrete flags/in situ concreteLimestone or concrete details

Other Streets Concrete flags and kerbs Asphaltlaneways Concrete flags or in situ concrete,

patterned or plainStone or concrete details

landmark Spaces A unique design is appropriate,e.g. Emmett Place while staying w ithin the range of

materials used elsewhere.

10


12/22

. . . THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE'CITV' CENTRE

FootpathsPaving flags should be aligned 10 the pave-ment direction with random width coursesacross the pavement. Odd sizes can be cut onthe inside of the pavement to fit the shape ofthe buildings . At street corners flags should becut to the shape of the corner (see figure. 7).Paving flags should generally be rectangular -900mm x 600mm in area. They may be com-bined with 600mm x 600mm flags, andshould be laid with staggered joints. Wheretheir is a risk of vehicles mounting the pave-ment a base of lean mix concrete should beused for additional strength.Where funds permit, l imestone kerbs will beused. In most situations these should ideallybe a minimum width of 200mm and not morethan 100mm in height.

- Utility Access CoversR ~ t e s s e d access covers designed to carrypaving flags, blocks or cobbles over utilityopenings in paved areas should be used wherepossible to avoid discontinuity in pavingschemes. Paving flags should ideally be cut toleave a maximum gap of 25mm to be infilledaround the utility cover.

2511'III t.lAX.1I0RTNI Fll.lSLllROUNl

Figure 7 Paving flags cut to fi t radius ofcorner.

Bo.Rdo.sChORCo.( SUB Bt\)[ Of CRUSHED STONE

C O R KCORPORATION

Figure 8 Cross-section of typical street.11


13/22

. - .- . _ THE PUBl:tC REALM IN THE CITV CENlRE

BexRdo.sChORCaf-OR KCORPORATION

Figure 9 Raised planters attract litterand need a lo t of maintenance in a citycentre location.

B. SOFT LANDSCAPING

Planters,Raised Planters should only be used inexceptional circumstances in the City Centre.They tend to impede pedestrian movementand add to the general clutter in the street. Ahigh level of maintenance is requi red to keepplants in good condition and litter free andthis has proved difficult to achieve in mostCity Centre locations. Where it is consideredappropr iate to use them as part of the overalldesign of an urban space they should be carefully sited and be in keeping with other elements in the space.

TreesTrees contribute in many ways to improvingthe urban environment. They perform aesthetic, architectural, nature conservat ion, cli-matic, recreational and educational functionsin the city. They reduce noise, help to combatai r pollution and fi I ter dust from the atmosphere.

SitingIn a City Centre locat ion trees must be sitedcareful ly, having regard to underground services, traffic and pedestrian movements andimpact on adjoining buildings. Generally in

City Centre locations semi-mature trees shouldbe used. Although expensive initially theyhave a greater chance of surviving vandalismand acc identa l damage and make an immediate impact in the streetscape e.g. UnionQuay.The laying of concrete or tarmac up to thebase of the tree is unacceptable as it restrictshealthy gr-owth and leads to cracks in the .paving surface, creating pedestrian hazard.

Planting and ProtectionAn unpaved area, 500mm to 1000mm square,shouId be provided around the base of eachtree, finished in a soil and sand'Or pebblemixture, to allow water and air through to theroots. Tree guards and gri lis are requi red insome locations to protect trees. Square gri l iswith a 1 metre minimum dimension constructed of i ron or steel are proposed, finished inblack or dark grey with a simple circular pattern. Tree guards should be of simple funct ional design constructed of steel or iron andpainted black.

Figure 70 Tree guard and grill.12


14/22

Bo.Rdo.sChORCc\f

CO R KCORPORATION

C. STREET FURNITUREIn addition to the design and materials forstreet furniture described below, aplanned maintenance programme is essential(or seating, bollards, litter-bins and lighting.Otherwise the benefit of the initial investmentis quickly lost.

I. SeatingThe selection of seating design is based onsimplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of maintenance. A simple functional design with ametal frame and timber slats for seat and backrest is proposed, a similar, but updated version to that used in Cork City in the 1950 's.(Ideally the timber should be from a sustainable forest source) .There may be locat ions where a more elaborate seat design is appropriate, perhapsdesigned as a unique element of public art,however, ornate mass produced seating isnot considered appropriate.Seats need to be sited with care so that theyprovide an ameni ty but do not impedepedestrians or become a focus for a-social ordisruptive behaviour. Riverbank sites generallywork well, while seats located on busy shopping seats have been found to cause problems.

Figure 11 Proposed standard seat design.

.THE ~ U B L l C REALM I T

Figure 12 Standard litter bin for areas ofhigh demand.11. Litter BinsThe black, rectangu lar post box type bins currently in use are considered appropriate formost areas of high demand in the City Centre .They are double sided and give double capacity, and have a sponsors name as well as theCorporation crest on both sides. A smaller binof similar design will be used where space isnot available for the large bin .Consideration may also be given to a smallbin attachable to traff ic or l ight ing poles wherethere is insuf ficient space for a bin on thepavement or where a pavement bin would beou t of character with the overal l design of aspace.

13


15/22

Ill. BollardsBollards are a trad itional means of distancingvehicles from buildings, structures and people.They should be used only where necessary;where over used they simply add to streetclutter and impede pedestrians .A s imple black bollard w ithout fussy detai l isproposed , 1 l.2m in height, constructed ofcast-iron or ductile iron or steel, of suf ficientdiameter to convey robustness. Ducti le ironhas the advantage of greater strength and canbe cuI and welded l ike steel. To facil itate thevisually impaired a contrasting lightercoloured top can be used.Bol lard design should be simple, funct ional,easi ly maintained and not attempt to mimicthe past in the way that many bol lards currently produced do .Where emergency or controlled access isrequired, removable collapsible, telescop ic orhydraulic types-of bol lards can be used.

Historic Centre .-A square timber bollard will be used in thehistoric centre to mark the area's distinctivecharacter. If possible the timber should befrom a sustainable forest source. These bollards will have a natural f in ish and a ref lect iveband to facil itate the visually impai red and fornightime safety.

THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITV CENTRE

Figure 13 Simple functional bollards.

Figure 14 Timber bollard for use inHistoric Centre.

Bo.RdMChORCoJjC 0 R KCORPORATION 14


16/22

E>'\ Rdl\SChoReM

C O R KCORPORAl ION

IY.Public LightingA simple, modern style of public l ighting isappropriate in most locat ions in the citycentre. High power sodium lighting with goodglare control is the preferred option. The styleand type of standards and lanterns may vary indifferent locations:Main traffic routes and wide streetse.g. St. Patrick Street, Washington Street,Bridge Street. .Light ing standards should be uniform and 8lOm high: The possibility-of providing a simple but distinctive column is being investigatedby the Traffic Department.Narrow shopping streetse.g. as Oliver Plunkett Street, Maylor Street.Lighting should be wall mounted 5-7m aboveground level. A well designed optical reflectoris required which wi ll a llow variation in thespread of the beam to opt imise spacing andreduce glare, to suit p a ~ i c u l a r locations.Variation in colour-of fittings tan be used tovary the impact of the l ight fittings e.g. greyfittings are less obvious in daylight hours thanmore strongly coloured fittings. The selectedl ight fi tting to be used in these streets is f romthe Optima range (see illustration).

Figure 15 Wall mounted 'Optima' lightfitting for use in narrow shoppingstreets.

.THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

Figure 16 Lamp standard option.

Historic CentreLighting consultants are still considering thel ight ing concept for the Historic Centre, buttheir interim report proposes use of white lightfrom a metal hal ide source, to contrast withthe yellow l ight used elsewhere in the citycentre. Lights will normally be fitted onbuildings at first floor level, with higher level"floodlights" used at junct ions. A trial will becarried out to test a number of opt ions on sitein North Main Street in late 1996

Pedestrian QuartersWhen l ight ing in these areas (such as the'Huguenot' quarter) is being upgraded, theCorporation will consider providing discreteoverall l ighting while allowing traders toprovide co-ordinated lighting at shopfrontlevel, to suit the character of the individualarea, subject to planning controls.

15


17/22

Lighting of BuildingsAppropriate lighting of landmark and historicbui Idings and other strategica Ily locatedbuildings can contribute greatly to the night -ti me attractiveness of the city centre. CorkCorporation wi II encourage lighting ofb ui ld in gs th ro ug h advise and throughencouraging commercial sponsorship,particularly in the case of community ownedbui ldings. A competition to encourage highquality lighting of privately owned buildings isalso being considered.

Undergrounding of Overhead LinesAs opportunit ies arise and funds permit it wi 11be an aspirat ion to underground overheadlines in the city centre.

. THE PUBLIC REALM lN THE CITV CENTRE

V. SignageThoughtful selection and sit ing can helpreduce the unattractive clutter andproliferation of signs which occ urs at present.The minimum number of traffic signal postsand information signs should be used, sitedand colour co-ordinated to reduce obstructionand visual c lutt er . Signs should be c om binedon essential poles where possible e.g. trafficsigns and signals could be located on lampposts.A first step t ow ards achieving this m ight be tocarry out a survey of signage in a selectedarea e.g. the H is toric Centre to ident if y dupli-cation, redundant signs and possibilities forcombining signage on one pole.Information panels and kiosks can provide auseful service to visitors and shoppers.However. they need to be used sparingly andc aref ul ly designed and sited if they are tomake a posit ive contribution to thestreetscape. They should be integrated intothe initial design of a space rather than addedin later and used in lo cati on s where there isspace for pedestrians to pause withoutobstructing passers-by.

Ba.Rda.sChoRCaJ

CO R KCORPORATION

Figure 17 Care inselection and sitingof street furnitureis necessary toavoid excessiveclutter, as in thisexample in St.Patrick Street.

/ "----l

\\\ \.\

16


18/22

VI. Telephone Kiosks and Bus SheltersThese are essentiaI elements of street furniture,which if poorly located, can detract greatly(ram an area. They should be sited so to pro-vide the appropriate service without undulyimpeding pedestrian movement. If possiblethey should be sited so as to avoid attrac tiveviews of bu il d ings or streetscape; their usec lose to " listed buildings" needs to be careful-ly considered to minimise any negativeimpacts.

.THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

Bo.Rdo.sChORCoJ

COR KCORPORATION

Figure 18 Inappropriate siting of streetfurniture can detract from views ofhistoric buildings.

17


19/22

. J .THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE 'CITV CENTRE

VII. Public ArtThere is considerable scope for incorporationof art elements in the Public Realm throughuse of the 1% for Art Scheme, whereby 1% ofexpenditure on public capital projects may beaIlocated to works of art, subjec t to a maximum of 20,000. The scheme has beenimplemented by Cork Corporation in a numberof public housing projects using a part-timeartistic advisor to co-ordinate the inputs of various artists, helping them develop their proposals and act ing as l iaison between the artistsand the project architects.Artists could make a contribution not only inworks of art to enhance public spaces, but indesign of paving, l ight ing and street furniturein specially selected schemes. One examplemight be design of pavement signs indicatingthe location of the medieval laneways in theHistoric Centre. It is important that the artistbe brought in at an early stage in pro jectdesign to ensure that the art element is integra Ito the design and not simply added on at theend. The employment of s o m e o ~ to to-ordinate artists input is essential to ensure smoothrunni ng of such a project . .Much of the street furniture etc. being proposed is of and s imple and funct ional design.Public art can be used in strategic locat ionsas a counterpoint to this, e it her by using anartist to design a funct ional element such as aseat, bol lard or streetl ight , or alternatively astand alone work of art .

Figure 19 Artists can be used to designfunctional elements in the streetscepe asin this example from Edinburgh.

Ba.Rda.sChoxcerWl0 R KCORPORATION 18


20/22

Bl\Rdl\SChORCOS

CO R KCORPORATION

D. VISUALLY IMPAIRED ANDDISABLED

Care should be taken in public realm design tosatisfy the needs of the physically disabled andvisually impaired.

Street FurnitureStreet furniture should be located so as not toobstruct the main pedestrian route and shouldbe easily distinguished from its surroundings.A clear width of at least 900mm should bemaintained between obstructions such asbol lards, l it ter bins and lamp posts on themain pedestrian route ( see Figure 20).

SurfacesColour and texture variations, in conjunctionwith level changes, should be used to distin-guish footpaths, pedestrian crossings and theroad carriageway. Footpaths should be rarnpedat pedestrian crossing places to facilitatedisabled people, buggies etc. Tactile pavingwill also be provided at pedestrian crossingsto aid visually impaired people.

BollardsBol lards should not be less than 1m high andideally should not be less than 250mm inwidth, although this will not always bepossible. The bollards should have a brightlycoloured top or band to aid the visual lyimpaired.

Utility CoversManholes, drainage gratings etc should bepositioned with care, avoiding locations atdished pavements and on the main pedestrianroute where possible (see Figure 21).

,THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITY CENTRE

UTTER0 TELEPHOtDIN KIOSK------ ---1----------------- -00 rrm- ----- - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

LN.tP POST 0

Figure 20 Maintain main pedestrianroute free of obstructions. '

Figure 21 Ramped pavement at pedestri an crossing.

19


21/22

. .THE PUBLIC REALM IN THE CITV CENTRE

COR KCORPORATION

E. PROTECTION OF HISTORICElEMENTS

Many elements of street furniture and pavingfrom the 19th and early 20th cen tu ry are sti I1in place in our streets, More research isneeded to accurately catalogue and date themHowever, every effor t should be made inrefurbishment schemes to identify andretain/reuse these reminders of the past Theyhave an intrinsic historic value and their reusehelps to preserve the character of the streetafter refurb ishment.

Street FurnitureWhere paving is being renewed historicelements in the pavement, such as oldmanhole covers, stopcocks etc. as well ashistoric elements of street furniture such as,bollards, letter boxes and horse troughs shouldbe identified, retr ieved and reused wherepossible,

Figure 22 Stopcock.

BollardsA unique bol lard design was introduced toCork in the 19th century by Cork HarbourCommissioners. Examplesof these bollardsand other historic bol lards still exist both onthe waterfront and elsewhere, for example onGrand Parade, and they should be protectedand retained in any refurbishment schemes.

Figure 23 Manhole cover.

. f ....."' .

" .-:- r..:....," ...;.'

v ,-, ..

Figure 24 Cork Harbour Commissioners19th Century bollard.

20


22/22

Stone SettsStone setts still exist in a number of locationsaround the city centre, for example at BeasleyStreet, Lower Glanmire Road and RockboroRoad. There are also many vehicularentrances across the pavement paved in settsThese remnants display the skilled craftsmanship of ear lier generat ions and they should beretained insitu where ever possible. Wherethe ir removal is unavoidable they should bekept in storage for future reuse.

Limestone kerbsLimestone kerbs still exist in many locat ionsand were sti l l being installed well into the20th centu ry. Their retention, in conjunct ionwi th the new limestone kerbs being used inthe historic centre, he lps lend a sense ofhisto rical continui ty to the city centre streets.

.THE f 'UlIC REALM IN THE CITV CENTRE

TrainingTraditional skills , such as the laying of stonesetts and paving, have been largely lost.Where t raditional materials are being used orreused tra ining is required, both forprofessionals and those laying the paving, toensure a high standard of workmanship.Training is also needed to ensure thatCorporation staff and other uti lity workersrecognise and appreciate the need to protecthistoric elements in the streetscape.

Bc\Rdc\sChoRCO.f

~ . Figure 25 Typical vehicular crossover pavedin stone setts, with limestone bollards toprotect entrance from wheel damage.

public realm in the city centre

Documents