Madam, - It was with disappointment that I read in last Friday's edition of the winning design for the 180-metre high U2 Tower. Descriptions of the skyscraper, by Foster and Partners, to be constructed without the inconvenience of having to apply for planning permission, are littered with superlatives and a nausea-inducing justification of the design by Mr Paul Maloney of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
While most recent developments in Dublin have been in keeping with the humane scale of a vibrant city, the proposed tower leads us towards a "brave new world".
Foster-designed buildings are to be found in a number of the world's leading cities and now, at last, we are to have one of our very own here in Dublin. However, instead of an exciting parliament building, a bank or airport terminal, we are to get - a luxury fortress for the wealthy, with a nod towards energy conservation and the inclusion of 34 social and affordable apartments. Could one imagine that these will be made available to the army of porters, cleaners and others needed to cater to the needs of the primary inmates of the scheme?
In addition we are to see a new five-star hotel, doubtless an item on top of the want list of every citizen of Dublin. The icing on this very expensive cake is to be a suspended "pod" in which pop musicians can record, high above the teeming masses, their latest contributions to popular culture.
Rather than seeing the development of an "inspirational landmark" as the tower is described by Mr Maloney of the DDDA, are not the citizens of Dublin being fobbed off with an eyesore imposed on their skyline, and a massive monument to the bloated egos, vulgarity and greed of members of the pop music community in particular and the pillars of our Celtic Tiger society in general? - Yours, etc,
STEPHEN C ROTHSCHILD, Brighton Avenue, Monkstown, Co Dublin.