The rejection of a proposed revamp of St Stephen's Green on aesthetic grounds “sends out exactly the signals that we want”, one of the country’s leading architects has said. 

An Coimisiún Pleanála refused planning for the €100 million project on the grounds that it "lacks a strong sense of original aesthetic and would not achieve a sufficiently high standard of placemaking, urban design and architecture at this key city centre location".

On Newstalk Breakfast, former president of the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Dr Carole Pollard said she strongly welcomed the decision. 

“I think it’s really important that the primary grounds for refusing development is on design,” she explained. 

“To me, that sends out exactly the signals that we want. 

“Recently, Ministers in the Government have been trying to downgrade the importance of design. 

“They’re saying aesthetics aren’t important when it comes to apartment design, that it’s all about size and affordability.” 

The interior architecture of the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. Picture by: Vitalli / Alamy Stock Photo

Dr Pollard acknowledged the importance of affordability, but added that design must also be taken into consideration when planning applications are considered. 

“Why do we love going to cities around the world? Why do Irish people spend their weekend breaks abroad in all these beautiful cities around the world?” she said. 

“Because they are beautiful cities, yet it seems that we just don’t think that should apply to Dublin somehow? Or to any of our Irish cities. 

“So, I think for them to have rejected it on those grounds is really, really strong.” 

The interior of Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin. Picture by: Hemis / Alamy.

Dr Pollard continued that while she is not personally a fan of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre “as it stands”, she still does not want it demolished. 

“30% of our carbon emissions in Ireland come from the construction sector,” she said. 

“A lot of that comes from demolition; there’s no need to be demolishing all our buildings that stand. 

“It’s something we just have to stop doing.” 

Protestors at Stephen's Green Shopping Centre. Image: Ellen Kenny

On the question of how the shopping centre could be improved without a full revamp, Dr Pollard urged the owners to “be imaginative”. 

“The circulation is really poor,” she said. 

“There’s single person staircases, the escalator system doesn’t work, the lifts are tucked down at the back of the building and they’re difficult to use. 

“I’ve tried to use them myself; the circulation just does not work.

“It’s a beautiful light-filled building; take out all the kiosks and create a garden in the middle of it.”

Main image: Proposed revamp of St Stephen's Green shopping centre. Image: Supplied.