Bono and The Edge have won a legal battle to be allowed to rebuild their Dublin Hotel The Clarence, giving the old fashioned structure a futuristic new look. They've been engaged in the case for four years, and have incurred the wrath of local conservationists, who believe that the plans are directly opposed to Ireland's strict planning laws, and that they've only won permission for the building work to go ahead because of who they are.
The scheme, devised by architect Norman Foster, would see the building gutted and expanded, tripling the number of rooms, and gaining a huge glass roofed atrium. The musicians and their partner in the property development, Paddy McKillen, said in a statement that the fact their building can now go ahead is "great news for Dublin and for Temple Bar in particular".
As aforementioned, local conservationists don't agree. Ian Lumley, of heritage-protection organisation An Taisce said: "We would obviously condemn the decision. It undermines national legislation on architectural heritage because of the number of protected sites being demolished". He admitted that Foster had come up with a "a very impressively conceived scheme" but said it was not the place for it, adding that "this would not be allowed in areas of comparable sensitivity in any other European countries."
The planning authority have set limits on the scheme, and have ruled that an archaeologist be present on the development during all stages of construction. Generally, though, they seem to have come round to the idea that the hotel "would provide a building of unique quality and architectural distinction at this quayside location" and would "in time become a significant feature in vistas along the Liffey [the river] and would ensure the continued historic hotel use of a signature building". Whether they came round to the idea because they were dealing with two of Ireland's wealthiest people, I don't know. Also approved is the 'U2 Tower', also designed by Foster, and set to become the tallest building in the country.