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Donabate Urban Centre Strategy Fingal County Council

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5.0 <strong>Urban</strong> Design Appraisal<br />

5.1 Distinctive Features of the Streetscape<br />

This section should be read in conjunction with Map 4: <strong>Urban</strong> Design<br />

Appraisal. The most distinctive features in the streetscape include the<br />

strong visual landmarks within the town centre by some very fine<br />

buildings of distinctive character and architectural merit.<br />

A number of stone walls exist throughout the town, predominantly<br />

in close proximity to Newbridge Demesne. Significant mature trees<br />

play an important role in the town’s streetscape by adding variety and<br />

enclosure to the streets and skyline. Where possible these should be<br />

maintained and protected. The following provides an appraisal of the<br />

key urban design features of <strong>Donabate</strong> town.<br />

5.1.1 Landmark and Focal Buildings in the town<br />

The town displays a number of notable buildings; some of which are<br />

Protected Structures and others which are included in the <strong>Fingal</strong><br />

<strong>County</strong> Survey by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage<br />

(NIAH)¹. These particular buildings are indicated as 'Buildings of<br />

Character' in Map 4: <strong>Urban</strong> Design Appraisal.<br />

Landmarks are distinctive buildings or structures, which help to provide<br />

reference points and emphasise the hierarchy of a place. Landmarks<br />

play an important role identifying a place in the wider landscape (spire,<br />

tower, statue, etc.). Landmarks work on a bigger scale and therefore<br />

are usually experienced from outside.<br />

Focal buildings are buildings that due to their unique characteristics and<br />

location help to provide reference points. Contrary to landmarks, focal<br />

buildings work on a local scale. <strong>Donabate</strong> town centre has 2 landmarks<br />

and 6 focal buildings. These include:<br />

Landmark Buildings<br />

Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church<br />

Saint Patrick’s Church of Ireland Church<br />

Focal Buildings<br />

The Cottage adjacent to Newbridge Demesne<br />

Smyth’s Pub<br />

<strong>Donabate</strong> Train Station<br />

Warington’s House at Main Street<br />

Thatched House<br />

Portrane National School (original)<br />

5.1.2 Strong and Weak edges<br />

Strong edges create good definition of streets and spaces with active,<br />

lively and attractive frontages. Weak edges present poor frontages to<br />

the town and fail to properly define and contain streets and spaces.<br />

The strong edges in <strong>Donabate</strong> town centre are confined to the core<br />

of the town, and include the east and west street frontages of the Main<br />

Street.<br />

Weak edges are most problematic when they occur in key locations in<br />

the town centre because they erode the town’s special character and<br />

undermine the visual strength of important places. Examples are along<br />

Turvey Avenue and Kilcrea Road – a key entrance gateway and major<br />

corridor artery to the town, adjacent to the train station fronting<br />

onto the Main Street, along the Balcarrick Road and at key sites at the<br />

junction of Main Street Portrane Road and Beaverstown Road. Please<br />

refer to Map 5: Edges.<br />

¹Please note: The NIAH surveys provide the basis for the recommendations of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to the planning authorities for<br />

the inclusion of particular structures in their Record of Protected Structures (RPS). The published surveys are a source of information on the selected structures for relevant<br />

planning authorities. As such, structures may or may not be protected.<br />

View of Main Street with strong edge characteristics<br />

View of the junction at Main Street and the Portrane Road showing a<br />

particularly weak edge<br />

<strong>Donabate</strong> <strong>Urban</strong> <strong>Centre</strong> <strong>Strategy</strong> 13

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