Merrion Centre

[onix]

Originally Posted by di Livio

Hmm, notice how the 'Varsity' section of the facade is covered in grey plastic panelling?

how do you know its gray plastic ? even if it is it's not much.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by onix

how do you know its gray plastic ? even if it is it's not much.

Because the Costa Coffee has already been clad using grey plastic panels and the render would appear to indicate the same panelling for the old brown brick section above Varsity.

It's good to see three levels looking out onto the street though.

[Leeds No.1]

I've seen Costa but cant remember the grey plastic look. Was it similar to that of Park Plaza Podium? If it turns out like that, then I'm not complaining.

[onix]

..

[di Livio]

www.merrionshopping.com/

Looks like there could be a website for this development.
This image of Costa is taken from the TCS website. While I obviously don't like the strip of grey plastic, the black granite is the dog's testicles.

[onix]

cheers for that. not too much gray

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by onix

cheers for that. not too much gray

Not quite as grey as...

[Rob]

That was so realistic, he (the real Major) really did look just like that.

That used to be my favourate weekly show, and nothing has beaten it since.

[LS8]

Part of my general rule of thumb - when trying to come to an opinium as to whether a building is good or bad is based on whether it will improve an area or the opposite.

The works I think will improve this area, they mirror those works already done by oceana and costa unifying this section of the merrion centre. I dont think the merrion centre will ever be beutiful but atleast were heading in the right location.

[aviator]

Improved and unimproved side by side at the site of the new Sainsbury's. I assume that the brickwork on the upper storeys will be reclad. The little kiosk further up the street has now been removed to make way for the extension you can see in the second of the renders that tomd89 posted.

[onix]

..

[Val Verde]

Minor piece of news is that a sign has gone up the front of the Sainsbury Local saying that it will open on the 7th September. However the unit between Sainsburys and Varsity appears to let.

Also does this refurbishment of the Merrion Centre mean that the Nevisport and craft shop in between that and Costas will be vacated to require refurbishment or will this be just external modification which will allow the stores to stay open during refurbishment?

[Val Verde]

Couple of things I noticed in the Merrion Centre is that on the empty former Model Zone unit is plastered with renders of the refurbishment and the signs are covering other empty units as well as interestingly the former Odeon cinema has been plastered with news of the refurbishment. Could be nothing but could they be finally planning a new use for this cinema.

Also in the Merrion minor stuff such as a new shop sign for Woolworths and Benjys appears to being refitted into a cafe (whose name I forgot) my guess an independent sandwich / coffee shop as I thought Benjys went bust a year ago. Are Morrisons ever going to refurbish their store with the impending opening of a Sainsburys at the centre?

[Naboo]

Originally Posted by Val Verde

Are Morrisons ever going to refurbish their store with the impending opening of a Sainsburys at the centre?

Well i'll be shopping at Sainsburys instead of that hell hole. I'd imagine many more will do the same. Hopefully this will force Morrisons into action. It's like a time warp in there.

[tomd89]

Noticed today that in the empty shop unit next to Poundstrecher, theres a architects render of the whole of the Woodhouse lane elevation. Unfortunatly, the brown brick box above the new Sainsburys and Varsity is going to be clad in silver (grey) panels. Better than nothing I suppose, some Portland stone would have looked much better imo.

[Subliving]

The reason they clad in those panels is that it's cheaper and more cost effective for such a development. Portland stone must be many times more expensive. It just wouldn't be cost effective for the developers in such a development where the return isn't going to be that huge anyway.

Subliving.

[aviator]

And the makeover of the Merrion Centre is well under way

[ahmedd]

Originally Posted by aviator

And the makeover of the Merrion Centre is well under way

will this only make morrisons next door look even worse?

[Smoggie_Si]

Originally Posted by ahmedd

will this only make morrisons next door look even worse?

I love the Morrisons cladding, it's pleasingly 70's retro!

[tomd89]

Originally Posted by Smoggie_Si

I love the Morrisons cladding, it's pleasingly 70's retro!

Count me in too, the morrisons cladding is rather funky, if it was given a clean and the bottom with the white grills tarted up it could look very attractive!