I have photographed this bandstand a number of times but this time I had a number of problems but the main one was that I had to edit out a number of children who kept getting in the way but it is nice to see that they like the structure as much, if not more, than I do.
The other issue is that they structure is no longer uniformly white and there is much discolouration which appears to be much uglier in the images than it is in reality.
Here is how the developer (Darmody Architecture) described the structure: “Understanding the client brief in terms of the desire for innovation together with the need for a functioning pavilion was a clear starting point. This led us to a sculptural form which embraces the functionality of a performance space while being a poetic element in its own right. Our studies of fluid forms guided us to an aerodynamic structural skeleton with a technical skin inspired by the engineering of modern aircraft and its composite elements. This development of a fluid skin allowed us to explore and enjoy the idea of the lightness and the vitality of summer light. The canopy form was manipulated and folded creating the implied enclosure of space and light.”
The Mardyke is an area in Cork city, on the northern half of the long western part of the island formed by the two channels of the River Lee near the city centre. It was historically left as open space because the land along the north channel of the river is prone to flooding. From east to west these open spaces are: Presentation Brothers College, a boy’s secondary school; the Mardyke ground of Cork County Cricket Club; Fitzgerald Park, which includes Cork Public Museum; Sunday’s Well Lawn Tennis Club; and the athletic grounds of University College Cork.
NOT EXACTLY A HANGING GARDEN THE SKY GARDEN AT FITZGERALD PARK
I really like this but as always, in Ireland, there is a complicated story or history associated with this garden. I don’t know the exact details but there was a major dispute between Cork City Council and the designer Diarmuid Gavin.
Relations between Gavin and the city council eventually deteriorated to such an extent that City Hall cut all ties with Gavin and moved on with the project without him. below is a quote from a local publication:
“Mr Gavin also expressed embarrassment at being associated with the venture, the cost of which is disputed, and questioned the morality of spending more money revamping Fitzgerald Park in order to incorporate the overhanging steel pod inspired by the film Avatar.”
According to some the City Council decided against suspending the structure for safety reasons.
This was originally Diarmuid Gavin’s Sky Garden which was a major feature at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2011 and it won the top prize.
The ‘Irish Sky Garden’, sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and Cork City Council, was suspended 82 feet in the air and contained 25 pools as well as grasses, photinias and bamboos. The eye-shaped garden was inspired by Dublin animator Richie Baneham, whose visual affects from the movie Avatar were integrated into the design.
Diarmuid Gavin’s controversial Sky Garden was part of a major programme to develop a world-class horticultural tourist trail in Cork city which the local council which was to be in operation by the summer/autumn of 2012.
The Mardyke Gardens encompassing Fitzgerald’s Park now includes a restored historic fountain and pond dating from the Cork Exhibition of 1902.
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