6. Animate THE WATER With the departure of large-scale maritime activities and the redevelopment of Docklands, the Liffey can and will change character. The city s residents can colonise the water, turning it into an urban playground. The Dublin Docklands Master Plan provides a framework with which to stimulate and co-ordinate new activities in the river. 60
Special attraction vessels Water taxi Floating village/seasonal spaces/retail markets Marina Occupy the river pontoons Temporary and permanent cultural occupation Visitor-ship mooring facility Docklands swimming pool Sailing events Floating hotel Community boat/barge Education boat/barge 61
OCCUPY THE RIVER! Occupy the River is an initiative of Dublin Docklands Development Authority designed to bring new water-based businesses to the River Liffey. The arrival of famine replica ship the Jeanie Johnston; the launch of the Liffey Voyage tour service; and the redevelopment of Dublin City Moorings as a super-yacht berthing facility are merely the start of a process through which the city recaptures the river as an essential public amenity. Various vessels can be moored and based in the heart of Dublin to provide recreational and tourist facilities. The current Dublin Docklands Master Plan provides a framework that governs the type and location of these different initiatives. The framework plan is based on the notion that activities on water and land should reinforce each other, together creating a strong destination. For example, restaurant boats and floating clubs moored in the vicinity of a land-based night-life quarter would increase the area s appeal and generate extra business. 62
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LIFFEY ZONING To oversee development of the river and the quaysides a zoning plan has been developed. The Liffey Zoning Plan defines the space needed for navigation and manoeuvring on the river, including the section that connects the Grand Canal with the Royal Canal. The Liffey Zoning Plan distinguishes permanent and temporary moorings and defines the scale (size and height) of the vessels in certain zones. In this way the Plan provides both clarity and flexibility. 64
North lots island North Lotts Island LEGEND Navigation Navigation fairway fairway Max Max Length Length of of vessel vessel 50 50 m Max Length of of vessel 25 m Marina/Pontoon / berths Visitor ship mooring quay Floating Pontoons village / Pontoons Islands Floating Possible Village Island BJ B.J Marine Terrace terrace Turning Turning Circle circle Bridge Bridge and + clearance clearance 0 50 100 m The Liffey Zoning Plan 65
A FLOATING PONTOON CITY The concept of joined pontoons will be developed to maximise the river s potential. Arranged in different formations, the pontoons can accommodate festivals, concerts, boat shows, water taxis, yacht races, public performances, swimming pools and so on. Between events, the pontoons can be moored along the quayside creating a continuous walkway on the river similar in function to the campshires but at a lower level. A dedicated organisation would manage, maintain and configure the pontoons. 66
Typical vessels that could be used to form a floating village Different pontoon configurations to form a floating village 67
WATER TAXI SERVICE Suggested pontoon configuration to form water taxi stops Water taxi service 68
Water taxi Rotterdam Water taxi Venice Water taxi New York 69
DOCKLANDS SWIMMING POOL Following the successful examples of Copenhagen, Paris and Berlin, a river swimming pool in the Liffey or the Grand Canal has the potential to become one of Dublin Docklands biggest attractions. The Harbour Bath Copenhagen In 2002, the City of Copenhagen opened the Harbour Bath as part of the Harbour Park (Havneparken) on Islands Brygge. In no time, the Harbour Bath developed into a unique oasis right in the middle of Copenhagen. Copenhageners instantly loved the new attraction. Piscine Josephine Baker Paris 6 July 2006 saw the opening of the Piscine Josephine Baker, a swimming pool floating on the Seine. Spree Bridge Bathing Ship (Badeschiff) Berlin Berlin s funkiest bathing destination is the hull of a container ship in the Spree River. This modern installation by a Berlin artist and Spanish architects pays homage to when Berlin had 15 such bathing facilities along the river at the turn of the 20th Century. 70
The Harbour Bath Copenhagen Piscine Josephine Baker Paris Spree Bridge Bathing Ship (Badeschiff) Berlin 71
PONTOON CONFIGURATION Flexibility: pontoons can be arranged in various configurations to accommodate different uses Pontoon seasonal management strategy March November: festival placement of the pontoons along the campshires Pontoon seasonal management strategy December February: winter placement of pontoons as waterfront promenade (A), harbour storage (B). A B March November December February 72
Programmatic flexibility with basic pontoon 73
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One of the street entertainers at the Dublin Docklands Maritime Festival 75
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