ArchiAssets

CashelBurgh : Theoretical Masterplan for Town Quarter

A Hypothetical / Paper Exercise in re-Imagining the Rock of Cashel and its immediate surroundings, as the Centerpiece of a much larger town – to become over time, more like a mini version of Bath city or Edinburgh.

The Proposal compromises a series of ‘Vistas’ or ‘Grand Boulevards / Avenues’ orientated toward the Rock of Cashel. New Streets would be formed with building heights typically ranging from 3 to 5 storeys. The arrangement of the Public Realm / Spaces are envisaged to be similar in character / ambience to those of Bath City or Edinburgh, UK.

All buildings regardless of function, would be of Human scale & realised in a generally coherent Traditional Architectural style comparable for example to what arose from the Haussmann plan or the Arts & Crafts movement (Refer to work by E.Lutyens, C.Voysey etc) but leaning toward an Irish Vernacular. Materials for example would be Stone, Slate, Rustic Brick, Render, Timber. Pitched roofs only – ideally with slope in the 40 to 50 degree range or perhaps Mansard. Minimum street signage & road markings. Shop Fronts and Shop signage envisaged as traditional in appearance and subject to very strict planning guidelines. The Plan is somewhat indicative & not to scale

The Lands to the immediate north of the Rock of Cashel are designated by Tipperary County council as an area of high visual amenity and so are protected from ad hoc development as the experience of this type of ‘planning’ in recent decades has proven to be extremely damaging in many instances. However one can also take the view that large swathes of cities / towns can and should be Planned successfully in advance as was the case 150-200 years ago. Edinburgh for example grew outward from the Castle Rock into one of the world’s most loved cities due in no small part to the planning of surrounding buildings and streetscapes.

The Rock of Cashel, iconic in its historic significance, possesses the most impressive cluster of medieval buildings in Ireland. The population of Cashel at under 5000 is however a little at odds with the significance of its historical Monuments. The current development plan acknowledges that the town needs to grow in population terms and suggests that it might be desirable to have some future development to the west north west and east north east of the Rock of Cashel whilst maintaining the undeveloped large swathe of green open space to the immediate north.
This outcome would however likely result in ‘more of the same’ ad hoc planning with no addition of anything noteworthy. Perhaps whatever opportunity there may be to grow Cashel actually lies in the careful forward planning of an exemplary town quarter directly focused on the Medieval Cluster with the confidence demonstrated by town planners in the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Bruntsfield Area of Edinburgh comprises Urban Blocks of Dense Housing with rows of Apartment Buildings of predominantly 3 to 5 Storeys arranged around Green Courtyard or Park Space with attractive Landscaping. This approach achieves both Densification and the feeling of ‘having one’s own Garden’ but within an attractive and visually Coherent / Harmonious Urban Plan. Communal court space allows for overlooking from all Apartments. Introduction of Crescent spaces adds an element of surprise and variety & alleviates the Monotony which can result from endless rectilinear blocks . A desirable Urban Habitat planned around and subsequently evolving from an existing Monumental Focal Point.

Cashel Spur Railway Station. The Line once connected Cashel to the Cork – Dublin Railway Line via Goolds Cross.
Wiki commons File No. 74 (8449268749). File Source : The Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/No._74_%288449268749%29.jpg

Alternative Idea : Theoretical Public Park

Click Weblink to open Dedicated WebPage for more Detail – https://grandprojets.com/cashel-park/

Composite Images above are for illustration purposes only & based on Photos by Others. Credits as follows

• Backdrop Scene : Excerpt from Photo of Rock of Cashel by Daniel Zbroja via Unsplash
• Foreground Landscape / Garden : Excerpt from Photo of Versailles, France by Jan Zinnbauer via Unsplash

---

Preliminary Concept Analysis / Evaluation using Ai (Grok 3 Beta)

For More Detailed Preliminary Ai Evaluation refer to this Page https://grandprojets.com/cashelburgh-ai/

An Example of a ‘Country Aesthetic’ which applied to 3-5 storey Streets might suit a ‘CashelBurgh’ Masterplan. Perrycroft House by Charles.F. Voysey Architect. File Attribution : David M Clark / Perrycroft Gardens

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Perrycroft_Gardens_(geograph_7269915).jpg

ReEvaluation for Potential Catalysts / Investment Support & Economic Grounding

Further Evaluation for ‘Cashel-Burgh’ Branding & Irish American Diaspora & Tourism Interest

Further Evaluation for Compatibility with UNESCO Bid Criteria & Heritage Status

For More Detailed Preliminary Ai Evaluation refer to this Page https://grandprojets.com/cashelburgh-ai/