The Dublin spire isn’t a bad looking landmark per se but why does it look like it was specifically designed to pop blimps
It looks like whoever designed this hates balloons.
It’s a 120 meter tall stainless steel spike. Can’t go in it.
this looks like it was designed specifically so you could trip a kaiju and impale them with it
I used to hate it, but it actually makes more sense when you’re actually in/moving around Dublin lol.
Most buildings in Dublin are less than 5 storeys high, so you can see the Spire from most of the city centre, and get to the rest of the city from it fairly easily.
The Spire is designed so it works as a landmark you can see from almost anywhere.
Before Google Maps was really a thing, and even now it is, you could use it as a physical reference point to move around the city, and you’re kind of drawn to it one way or the other naturally. It’s kind of a giant IRL map pin.
That means there’s always a group of people at the base; teenagers meeting up with their buddies before setting off for the day, tour groups, folks from out of town just off the bus waiting their friends, and - my perpetual favourite - well dressed people with visible nerves trying to act cool as they wait for their dates.
So rather than a blimp defense system, think of it more like a spawn point.
Also when there’s a Star Wars movie they turn it into a lightsaber.
for those interested, this is a good example of how “Major structure you can see from everywhere” is a good thing for cities. The needle, though maybe not loved by everyone, is exactly as EJF says - a navigational reference point.
If you were ever lost, you could look for the needle and identify a major spot in the city. This can help avoid getting turned around (since you can track your direction in reference to a single point) , or provide a known spot to return to if you get disoriented.
This would also mean that if someone was new, they could learn the directions from the needle to where they were staying, and then travel the rest of the city with confidence that they can find their way back when they are done.
Water towers can serve a similar purpose in smaller towns, which is one of the reasons why they’re often kept, even when no longer used for storing water.
In conclusion, make fun of how it looks all you want, but this giant needle is now part of vital city infrastructure.
In @dduane‘s fantasy story “Herself”, the Dublin Spire is a focal point (ouch).
Spoilers below the cut.
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