Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
DAA, THE OPERATOR of Dublin Airport, is “disappointed” by Fingal County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission to demolish the spiral parking ramps at Dublin Airport’s terminal 1.
The decision from the council yesterday to refuse the planning of the demolition of the spiral parking structures was made after concluding that the application has failed to show an appropriate rationale or justification for the demolition of the spiral ramps, which the council consider to be of technical and architectural interest.
The spirals, constructed in 1972, and when operational, historically provided vehicular access to Levels 40 and 50 of T1 for car parking and services.
“We are disappointed by the decision, as the spirals need to be removed to deliver a better Dublin Airport for our passengers,” DAA said. “These spirals historically provided vehicular access to a now obsolete upper-level car park, and their removal is essential for upgrading Terminal 1’s façade. It is crucial that we prioritise the development of Dublin Airport that allows us to add terminal capacity.”
The council has also refused planning permission after finding that the demolition of the spiral ramps would diminish the quality of the proposed façade works granted as part of a planning application lodged in 2020.
The planning authority stated that this would result in the eastern façade of Terminal 1 being of a lesser design quality becoming visually dominant when viewed from the surroundings and would be seriously injurious to the visual amenities and character of the area.
Architect, urban designer and President of the Irish arm of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Angela Rolfe, said the serial parking ramps represent “a very fine and rare” example of brutalist architecture in Ireland.
Rolfe also said that the demolition proposal would “further significantly undermine” the cultural heritage of 20th century aviation.
Objecting to the application, Rolfe stated that the proposal to demolish the ‘iconic’ spiral ramps “has been undertaken as a knee jerk reaction to a current commercial/accommodation demand to continue to expand, but has no basis in a long term strategic planning context.”
DAA also stated: “We have a real opportunity with our new government to show Ireland can really get things done fast and live up to our hard-earned reputation as aviation leaders rather than followers. Nothing should be off the table as we look to unblock the passenger cap impasse to protect Ireland’s international connectivity, economy, and jobs.”
The DAA also said it had a ‘good meeting’ with Minister Darragh O’Brien and his officials last week.
“While we remain focused on building a more sustainable Dublin Airport that meets Ireland’s future needs for generations to come, we’ll study the latest planning rejection from Fingal County Council and weigh up our options.”
With reporting from Gordon Deegan
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
They are a masterpiece and should be preserved. I always enjoy visiting these historic landmarks when at the airport. Sense has prevailed.
They missed their chance. Most the brutalist architecture was torn down across the Ireland and the UK in the 2010’s while it was still unloved. These buildings are starting to be listed now.
Remove them and install them as structural art somewhere more visible, like a roundabout centre section.
That should keep the Brutalist lovers happy. (and away from inflicting any more bunkers on us normal folk!)
@Colm Flaherty: you have no appreciation of art.
@Basildon Joe: a lot like when I was told a local green area could not be seeded in wildflower seeds as the area needed to grow and maintain its native flora, for years that native flora is just green weeds with the odd dandelion for good measure. The few say it’s Flora or art in this case and the majority know it’s just weeds or an eyesore in this case..
Should never have pulled down ballymun apartment complex, it just needed a face lift and a rebrand, ballymaralago
Sothe DAA got planning permission in 2020 for project x and now a few years later appy change the conditions of planing permission that was granted.
No mention of the history of these ramps and the I.ra….go figure….worth a google….
OT but what are they constructing at T2 by the air bridge?
@Kieran Menon: that’ll be the runway for the fighter jets to take off when Russia invades.
@lastfewchocices: Russia can barely keep a war going with Ukraine. They’re not the superpower they used to be, but let’s give the arms industry billions so we can all play silly war games.
@Kieran Menon: A Hote.
@Kieran Menon: Hotel.
@Gerard Carey: oh.
Thought they were expanding the parking lot. :P
Good call by fingal. Probably serve no function now but are visually impressive on arrival. 100% should stay.
Iconic building. DAA greedy. Cap the passenger numbers. Give some business to the culchies.
@Michael O’Carroll: Airlines run the show and they don’t want to fly to the other airports…it’s not a state transport so business rules the show.
Noting than backing into them in a big truck wouldn’t sort out.
Does anybody actually give them a seconds thought ? Airports for most travellers are for getting into and out of as quickly as possible. If they’re not needed, get rid.
have your say