Professional Documents
Culture Documents
New Architecture
in Ireland
Sarah A. Lappin
Published by
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East Seventh Street
New York, New York 10003
For a free catalog of books, call 1.800.722.6657.
Visit our website at www.papress.com.
2009 Princeton Architectural Press
All rights reserved
Printed and bound in China
12 11 10 09 4 3 2 1 First edition
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without
written permission from the publisher, except in the context of reviews.
Every reasonable attempt has been made to identify owners of copyright. Errors or omissions will be corrected in subsequent editions.
Photo credits:
Front cover: Mimetic House by Dominic Stevens Architect,
photo by Ros Kavanagh
Back cover: Solstice Centre by Grafton Architects,
photo by Ros Kavanagh
5 bottom, 6, 11: Sarah A. Lappin
ii, vi, 5 top, 1213: Andy Frew
Table of Contents
Introduction
14
32
40
58
76
de Paor Architects
94
FKL Architects
110
116
Grafton Architects
134
Henchion+Reuter
148
156
heneghan.peng.architects
170
186
192
MacGabhann Architects
208
226
ODOS Architects
234
Acknowledgments
vi
Introduction
Fully Irish: Identity and Context
Full Irish
Introduction
Full Irish
Introduction
Full Irish
Shifts in Acceptance
Since the 1970s, there has been a slow but growing
interest in contemporary architecture on the island of
Ireland, particularly in the Republic. For many, the single
most important event that changed attitudes toward
contemporary architecture in the Republic was the
competition held in 1991 by Dublin City Council to
revitalize the Temple Bar area of the city center. Until
1990 the city had planned to create a gargantuan bus
station in an area of existing narrow streets and threeand four-story, high-density buildings. Because the area
had been blighted with the undesirability that festered in
many inner-city areas, rents were low, and an informal
community of artists, musicians, and writers had
established itself there. As the city began a slow
regeneration in the late 1980s, an increased desire for
city-center apartments made urban living more attractive;
locals began to take issue with the proposed demolition
of the Temple Bar areas traditional street layout and
scale of fabric.
The competition was awarded to a consortium of
eight small young firms called Group 91. Their overall
plan was not one single solution, rather a flexible series
of integrated responses.8 For them, this was a plan for
three thousand citizens, individuals living and working
in a modern democracy. Their designs called for a few
new streets, for two new public squares within the urban
framework, and for individual buildings, mainly based
around cultural projects and living spaces for those
working in the area.
It was the first time that contemporary architecture
by young architects had been built on such a large scale
and in such a concentrated area. Here were numerous
public and private buildings as well as new spaces carved
from the existing fabric that did not speak in a language
of pastiche. It was a first, too, for using cultural
programs to give the impetus for an inner-city project.
Introduction
Full Irish
Introduction
10
Full Irish
Introduction
11
12
Full Irish
Chapter
13
exterior
Paul Tierney
Alma Lane
14
Full Irish
Boyd Cody
Architects
15
16
Full Irish
enclosing wall
Paul Tierney
exterior
Chapter
17
location plan
18
Full Irish
19
sections
20
Full Irish
Paul Tierney
Chapter
21
exterior
Richmond Place
Paul Tierney
site
22
Full Irish
section
23
location plan
24
Full Irish
living space
living space
view to street
Paul Tierney
25
26
Full Irish
Paul Tierney
sections
plan
27
view of extension
Palmerston Road
glazed facade
28
Full Irish
Paul Tierney
Paul Tierney
Chapter
29
30
Full Irish
Paul Tierney
site plan
site section
31
view of addition
Alan Jones
Straidhavern School
32
Full Irish
Alan Jones
Architects
33
site plan
plan
section
34
Full Irish
exterior setting
Alan Jones
classroom interior
Chapter
35
exterior
Jones House
36
Full Irish
Alan Jones
37
sections
38
Full Irish
Alan Jones
Chapter
39
exterior view
Peter Cook/VIEW
Wooden Building
40
Full Irish
de Blacam
and Meagher
Architects
Unlike later waves of Irish architects, de Blacam and
Meagher did not spend large portions of their early
careers examining the local vernacular, nor did they work
on the Continent under the auspices of European
architects. Instead both Shane de Blacam and John
Meagher worked on the East Coast of the United States
for a timede Blacam with Louis I. Kahn and Meagher
for Venturi Scott Brown. The time spent there,
particularly with Kahn, is reflected loudly in their built
work and in their philosophies about building. They
employ simple, elemental forms, evidencing a deepseated understanding of the resonance of natural
materials, particularly timber, and an ability to weave
their buildings into the fabric of the urban landscape.
Unlike Venturi Scott Brown, though, they do not spend
time theorizing about their buildings but demand their
architecture stand alone, without rhetoric. Meagher
points to the simplicity of the work he and de Blacam
41
42
Full Irish
elevation
Peter Cook/VIEW
exterior details
de Blacam Meagher Architects
(Peter Cook/VIEW)
Chapter
43
context
section
RIVER
LIFFEY
ESSEX
QUAY
TRE
NT S
SE
IAME
ET
ES
PARL
GAT
EXC
HA
NG
TR
EX S
EET
E
TRE
E S
ESS
P
T U
PER
UTH
H SO
NORT
STR
EET
LO
RD
ED
WA
RD
STR
EET
CA
City Hall
Newcomen
Bank
ST
LE
ST
RE
ET
Dublin
Castle
Upper Yard
44
IL
CORK
Full Irish
45
Mews Houses
context in Dublin
46
Full Irish
Peter Cook/VIEW
site context
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
sections
47
side elevation
48
Full Irish
Peter Cook/VIEW
Chapter
49
relationship to water
Marthas Vineyard
built context
50
Full Irish
Gerry OLeary
site plan
Coliemore
Harbour
Martha's
Vineyard
Dalkey
Sound
Dalkey Island
Martello
Tower
51
+0.00
C O L I E M O R E
R O A D
-3000
52
Full Irish
views
to Bay
Gerry OLeary
interior
53
courtyard
interior materials
54
Full Irish
Peter Cook/VIEW
Peter Cook/VIEW
courtyard
Chapter
de Blacam and Meagher Architects
55
site plan
56
Full Irish
Peter Cook/VIEW
Chapter
57
58
Full Irish
Bucholz McEvoy
Architects
59
60
Full Irish
front facade
views to Fingal
Michael Moran
Chapter
61
section
62
Full Irish
63
exterior
atrium
64
Full Irish
Michael Moran
lobby
Michael Moran
waiting area
Chapter
65
66
Full Irish
section
67
development in context
Elmpark
hotel
68
Michael Moran
Full Irish
residential block
Michael Moran
landscape treatment
Chapter
69
site plan
site section
70
Full Irish
office block
Michael Moran
71
in context
security
pavilion
72
Full Irish
Michael Moran
73
shop plan
74
Full Irish
shop
Michael Moran
Chapter
75
N3
76
Full Irish
Dennis Mortelli
de Paor
Architects
77
78
Full Irish
north elevation
south elevation
sections
plan at 140 mm
plan at 1500 mm
plan at 3200 mm
de Paor Architects
79
exterior
Dennis Mortelli
construction
entrance
Dennis Mortelli
80
Full Irish
de Paor Architects
de Paor Architects
81
Clontarf
82
Full Irish
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
interior
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
detail of elevation
Chapter
83
site plan
84
Full Irish
landscaping scheme
Anna Hofheinz
de Paor Architects
85
interior
86
Full Irish
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
plan
de Paor Architects
87
section
88
Full Irish
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Chapter
89
in landscape
Teach Adhuain
kitchen
90
Full Irish
Nelson Carvalho
view to landscape
Nelson Carvalho
exterior
Chapter
91
section
elevation
92
Full Irish
living space
Nelson Carvalho
de Paor Architects
93
facade
Hlne Binet
S3
94
Full Irish
FKL Architects
95
96
Full Irish
facade inset
FKL Architects
entry
Cillian Hayes
concept sketch
Chapter
97
approach
interior
98
Full Irish
Hlne Binet
sections
plan
FKL Architects
99
Baldoyle Library
Paul Tierney
Paul Tierney
main stair
concept sketch
Chapter 101
site section
view of entrance
Paul Tierney
Chapter 103
external view
Reuben Street
Apartments
distant view
Paul Tierney
concept sketch
site plan
in context
Howth House
hillside facade
Verena Hilgenfeld
lower floor
Verena Hilgenfeld
view to entrance
concept sketch
Chapter 107
sections
facade detail
Verena Hilgenfeld
Chapter 109
house in site
Ros Kavanagh
In Between House
Dominic Stevens
Architect
111
lower plan
upper plan
Ros Kavanagh
Chapter 113
facade detail
Mimetic House
house in context
Ros Kavanagh
section
side elevation
Ros Kavanagh
Urban Institute
Grafton
Architects
117
stair
studio space
Ros Kavanagh
work spaces
Chapter 119
section
Solstice Centre
foyer/caf
Ros Kavanagh
interior of theater
entrance
Hlne Binet
Ros Kavanagh
Chapter 123
plan of gallery
longitudinal section
context
Federico Brunetti
Bocconi University
Grafton Architects
sectional perspectives
foyer of auditorium
Grafton Architects
Federico Brunetti
Chapter 129
Department of Finance
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
section
upper floor, first floor, ground floor, and lower ground floor plans
corner
front stair
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
office space
Chapter 133
front entrance
Paul Tierney
Henchion+
Reuter
135
interior of gym
roof terrace
Paul Tierney
Chapter 137
sections
Henchion+Reuter 139
street facade
Jobstown Centre
Paul Tierney
Henchion+Reuter 141
sections
courtyard
Paul Tierney
view in courtyard
Chapter 143
view of entrance
Aparthotel Kilternan
upper facade
Paul Tierney
Henchion+Reuter 145
Liffey Bridge
detail view
site plan
Henchion+Reuter 147
exterior
Mark Hackett
Dowling House
Hackett Hall
McKnight
149
sections
double-height salon
Mark Hackett
Chapter 151
MAC
elevations
view of courtyard
Chapter 153
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
heneghan.peng
.architects
157
building in landscape
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
ramp view
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
site plan
Chapter 159
heneghan.peng.architects 161
context
heneghan.peng.architects 163
site plan
Chapter 165
entrance court
grand stair
view of model
sections
heneghan.peng.architects 167
Chapter 169
exterior
Christian Richters
Ussher Library
McCullough
Mulvin
Architects
To understand the way Niall McCullough and Valerie
Mulvin work is to understand how they spent their time
in the doldrums that were the 1980s and early 1990s in
Dublin. This was not a period that McCullough Mulvin
spent sitting on their hands bewailing their lot; instead
they combed the countryside in search of the nature of
architecture in Ireland. They produced two books: A Lost
Tradition, jointly, and Palimpsest: Change in the Irish
Building Tradition, authored by McCullough alone, which
examined, in turn, the typologies found in the Irish
landscape and the changes that had been wrought in
native building traditions. McCullough also wrote Dublin:
An Urban History, which similarly investigated the urban
form of the countrys largest city.
As part of Group 91, which transformed Temple Bar
and decidedly created a voice for contemporary Irish
architecture, McCullough Mulvin began to design
buildings that are purposefully and inextricably linked to
171
library facade
atrium
Christian Richters
Chapter 173
long section
Waterford Library
exterior treatment
Christian Richters
site location
section
stair
Christian Richters
reading area
Chapter 179
exterior view
Christian Richters
link
context
location
river facade
facade to deck
Christian Richters
river site
front elevation
long section
library
Christian Richters
reflection of town
Chapter 185
multipurpose room
Ros Kavanagh
Brookfield Community
and Youth Centre
Hassett Ducatez
Architects
187
section
courtyard/playspace
Ros Kavanagh
Michael Duffy
Chapter 189
in context
Glass House
corner detail
Ros Kavanagh
plan
section
view to entrance
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Letterkenny Public
Services Centre
MacGabhann
Architects
193
entry facade
sebum roof
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Chapter 195
section
to the walls, can close off one end of the house from the
other for total privacy. The library corridor is illuminated
with slices of light brought in from incisions in both roof
and wall.
To one side of the front door is a smaller guesthouse,
with sleeping, bath, and living spaces; to the other is the
larger main house, with kitchen and more significant
living space. Both end rooms have been specially tailored
to attune themselves to the views and light, the ceilings
flicking up to make the best use of the sun. Because the
house is approached from above by a steep winding road,
the architects carefully considered the fifth facade, the
roof. It is here that the MacGabhanns interest in
manipulating geometry is exhibited despite the projects
small size. They chose and then sourced pre-patinated,
black zinc standing-seam cladding for both roof and
wallsa material that disappears into the landscape,
especially when viewed from the lower beach or from the
water. The material harks back to technology of the
ubiquitous holiday caravan, shipping containers,
temporary buildings that sit lightly on the landscape.
Teach Annie has a history with the MacGabhanns:
the clients original house on the site was remodeled and
extended by their father; when the clients wanted to build
a new house, they contacted his sons. The new house
reflects MacGabhann Architects continuing interest in
manipulating geometries and committing to a
responsibility to attuning to the surrounding buildings.
The white plasterwork external finish and large pitch,
dark, corrugated fiber cement roof reflect the modest
local building materials. The building is cut into an
existing berm, setting it farther into the landscape and
carefully orchestrating views out to sea and back across
the Donegal Mountains. Thick walls, also characteristic
of local building traditions, are punctured by windows
with mill-finished, untreated aluminum reveals that
extend 4 inches/100 mm from the plane of the wall.
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
main entrance
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Chapter 199
sections
main stair
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
top gallery
Chapter 201
overview of site
Tuath na Mara
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
detail of elevation
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
site plan
Chapter 203
night view
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Teach Annie
detail of elevation
Andy Frew
site plan
house in landscape
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
living space
aerie
Chapter 207
exterior
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Glucksman Gallery
ODonnell +
Tuomey
Architects
To write a new perspective on the work of ODonnell +
Tuomey is a considerable challenge. The firm not only
attracts great attention and admiration from architects
and critics who generate large volumes of attendant
literature, but its principals also write a good deal
themselves. Moreover, they have been at the forefront of
architecture in Ireland for years. After working in London
at Stirling Wilford on the Staatsgalerie in Stuttgart,
Sheila ODonnell and John Tuomey returned to Ireland
and became key members of Group 91. Possibly Irelands
best-known practice outside the island, their firm has
been short-listed twice for the Stirling Prize; as teachers,
they have played a critical part in the education of at
least one generation of Irelands architects.
Though these are clearly two practitioners
preoccupied by architecture, they are as likely to discuss
poetry or recent travels with you as their latest building.
They seem to teach, paint, design exhibitions, lecture,
209
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
view to entry
Chapter 211
plan of podium
section
gallery
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
entry
Chapter 215
exterior
Killiney House
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
detail of exterior
interior
roof plan
section
courtyard
upper corridor
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
multipurpose hall
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Chapter 221
context
Michael Moran
foyer
Michael Moran
Chapter 223
section
interior courtyard
Michael Moran
Chapter 225
courtyard
Ros Kavanagh
Knocktopher Friary
ODOS
Architects
227
exterior
Ros Kavanagh
elevation
section
entry facade
House in Wicklow
plan in landscape
elevation
section
slope elevation
Ros Kavanagh
Ros Kavanagh
Acknowledgments