Donabate Urban Centre Strategy Fingal County Council

5.0 Urban Design Appraisal
5.1.10 Other Urban Design Elements
Planted Beds
Throughout Donabate several planted beds can be found, mostly along
Main Street and at the junction of Portrane Road and Beaverstown
Road. Planted beds are important elements which help define the
quality of a streetscape, but in order to positively impact the streets
and the town’s image, planted beds should have complementary designs
and materials that are continuously maintained. They should also be
managed throughout the town so as not to pose as an obstacle to the
street users and complement the other street furniture.
Planted beds along Main Street
Traditional Water Pumps
A distinctive feature of the streetscape in Donabate are the traditional
water pumps which are found outside Warington’s House and at the
Square adjacent to Newbridge Demesne and within the village green
along Main Street. These older streetscape features add character and
interest and should be maintained and protected. The pumps are noted
on Map 4: Urban Design Appraisal.
Water pump outside Warington’s House
Street Lights
A number of different street light designs are evident throughout the
town and help to define the character of particular areas.Along Main
Street a modern neo-traditional style lamp standard is used that is of a
sufficient height so as not to dominate the streetscape. As one leaves
the town along Beaverstown Road and Portrane road to the north and
Kilcrea Road and Turvey Avenue to the south the street lights become
more standardised and utilitarian in nature.
Natural Stone
Numerous boundaries in the town reveal the use of local natural
stone that are locally distinctive and varying in patterns and detail. This
local natural material adds character to the area and helps to create
a harmonious streetscape. Stone walls of note within the town are
located primarily around the area adjacent to Newbridge Demesne.
Please refer to Map 4: Urban Design Appraisal.
Natural stone wall detail
A modern neotraditional style lamp
standard along Main Street
Street Furniture
Donabate town centre has some impressive urban design elements.
When people move around by foot there is time to see, to touch and
to enjoy all the various elements within the streetscape.
However litter bins, signs and utility boxes are sited randomly on
footpaths and these are signals to people visiting the town that there
is a lack of coordination in the placing of these elements of street
furniture. Within the Strategy there is potential to introduce a local
design profile which can create a strong image for Donabate.This can
be as simple as choosing one colour for all street furniture elements
within Donabate.
Litter bin design within the town centre Utility boxes placed randomly
along Main Street
Signage Detailing
Donabate Urban Centre Strategy 24