That was part of it, but you’re ignoring the huge improvements in the quality of life for most inhabitants that the transformation of Paris brought, e.g. sanitation and transport.

Anyway, my argument about the humane quality of this type of architecture was more aesthetic than sociological, and whatever Zola might have thought at the time, I think there’s a reason why Paris is considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities, if not the most beautiful, by a large majority of people.

What is appropriate?

The area is indeed awful, but building a swanky scyscraper won’t solve that problem. If you want to regenerate such an area you have to modernize the existing buildings that are worth it and integrate modern buildings in between, all within the restrictions of an overarching aesthetic. Then you have to attract the right people and businesses to buy or rent flats, shops and offices.

If that’s not forthcoming, the best I can do is point you in the direction of some more intelligent redevelopment of former industrial areas. Hamburg is a good place to start.

Okay, so you can tell me what is not appropriate for the site. What is appropriate?

Caltrava’s ludicrous James Joyce bridge
http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/dublin/bridges/james_joyce.html
should be a warning of the results of cutting-and-pasting the lesser projects of internationally-celebrated architects into the Dublin cityscape. The bridge might have looked OK elsewhere, but at this point on the river it makes no sense at all. It is meant chiefly as a signifier of “Caltrava,” a brand associated with notions “modernity” and “progress” which the clients want for the city and think they can buy off the shelf.

I’m not arguing against development, modernism or new materials, only for their intelligent application. In other words, (26) “folks” taking architecture and urban planning “seriously.”

In this instance the built environment includes the Point Depot, Alexandra Basin (where ugly great container ships dock), the East Link toll bridge and Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium; a little further out there are the two tall chimneys of the power station, painted in bright red and white stripes to scare the airliners. Eyesores all.

Seriously folks, what do you expect Foster to put there, a Palladian villa?

I’m not agin modernism. I’m agin putting that thing there, where it’s clearly disproportionate and contextually incongruous. If Foster was as good as they claim he is he would take account of the built environment in which he proposes to place his stuff. That he doesn’t appear to do so suggests that he is more interested in drawings than buildings (and not an arrogant solipsist who doesn’t care whether his designs are actually useful at all, oh no.)

As for timelessness, Zola is said by Wikipedia to have hated the changes, and this wasn’t a hugely unusual opinion.

Honest? I think such towers will always face resistance from small-minded, unimaginative, regressive reactionaries such as myself.

But when they’re proposed by insufferable and irritatingly, incomprehensibly (to us) successful people who furthermore are earnestly endeavouring in proselytising causes, well…

In that perspective this tower actually looks surprisingly moderately offensive. I mean it’s offensive, but not as much as one might expect. But then I have no relationship to the Dublin skyline whatsoever. I didn’t even know it had one.

What I can say for certain, though, is that I think Bono himself looks like a penis. A bespectacled penis.