City needs more inspiring architecture

NOT even the most one-eyed Up-The-Rebels citizen of Cork would suggest that the city deserves a place on the itinerary of an architecture student travelling through Europe in search of inspiring contemporary cityscapes.

Most of the recent developments, say in the last two decades, are, at best, commercial-utilitarian and far too many fall heavily on the utilitarian side of that divide.

Though there are wonderful exceptions, the heavy hand of unlovely pragmatism is more apparent than any loving, aesthetic caress.