THIS WEEKEND marks the one time this year when the public can go through doors they can’t usually access. It’s the sixth year of Open House Dublin, the ever-popular initiative organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation. From tomorrow until Sunday, there will be 129 events that celebrate, showcase and provoke discussion about architecture in our capital city.
This year the theme is the “architecture of change”, with a focus on the 20th anniversary of the original framework plan for Temple Bar, and the work of Herbert Simms, who was responsible for 17,000 houses in Dublin between 1898 and 1948.
There will be 85 private and public buildings open; 10 events aimed at families and children; 23 walking, cycling and boat tours; and 11 talks and associated exhibitions. Everything is free. Most tours and events are on a first-come first-in basis, but some are pre-book only. Even when tours and events are pre-booked, it’s always worth turning up and seeing if other people fail to, so you can take their slot instead.
Included among the buildings the public will have an opportunity to look around are these newspaper offices, at Tara Street. Visitors will tour the newsroom, the floor where editor Kevin O’Sullivan is based, and the seventh-floor canteen, with views out over the city. Also open are the Provost’s House at Trinity, Leinster House, Government Buildings, the Royal College of Surgeons, Liberty Hall, the Criminal Courts of Justice and the Iveagh Trust Museum Flat on Patrick Street.
There are also many private architect-designed homes open, some of which are new builds, and others which feature innovative extensions, or adaptations of existing spaces. These include timber-framed Hedge House in Ranelagh, designed by GKMP; an eco-adapted cottage in the Liberties designed by Brian O’Brien; and The Shack in Howth, a dramatic extension by PAC Studio.
Here are some highlights of what’s on offer this year:
New to view:
Résidence de France, Ailesbury Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
Since 1931, this flagship building with lovely gardens has been the official residence of the French ambassador.
4 Avoca Terrace, Blackrock, Co Dublin
It’s the centenary year of Flann O’Brien’s birth, and this year you can visit his former Dublin home. There will also be two talks about O’Brien by writer and critic Eibhlín Evans.
The Cupboard House, Vernon Avenue, Clontarf, Dublin 3
A private residence which doubles as a gallery, due to its use of flexible space.
The Lir, National Academy of Dramatic Art, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2
Designed by Smith Kennedy, and an anchor building on a corner site at Grand Canal Quay, this is Ireland’s new academy for dramatic arts, which is affiliated to Trinity College.
Seán Treacy House, Buckingham Street, Dublin 1
A recently finished scheme of 53 units of social housing and community facilities, which replaced 1960s blocks of flats, designed by Paul Keogh Architects.
The Tailors Hall, Back Lane, Dublin 8
Restored by An Taisce, which has its headquarters in the building, this is the only surviving guildhall in Dublin, and is the city’s oldest public secular building.
City Assembly House, South William Street, Dublin 2
Built between 1761-1771 by the Society of Artists as the first purpose-built exhibition gallery in either Ireland or Britain. It was also used as the assembly rooms of Dublin Corporation, and for many years, acted as the city’s civic museum space.
Martello Towers
There are four towers new to the programme this year, including Bullock Harbour tower in Dalkey, which has been converted into a private residence. Other towers are at Killiney, Seapoint and Sandycove.
North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1
There are four Georgian houses on view in this historic street, including two new ones, Numbers 13 and 40.
At No 13, there’s an opportunity to see how the current owners are progressing with an ongoing restoration, and at No 40, you can see the period servants’ tunnel that runs from the basement to the garden. Nos 11 and 50 are also open.
Outhouse, Capel Street, Dublin 1
Restored Georgian building, which is the community-owned resource centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families.
Architecture outdoors:
Namalab virtual tour
Students and staff at DIT Bolton Street mapped and designed alternative uses for the properties and sites in Dublin that are now owned by Nama.
Architecture from the sea
A one-off boat tour departing Dún Laoghaire harbour that will explore the architecture of south Dublin from the perspective of the sea.
Group 91, Temple Bar walks
On the 20th anniversary of the Temple Bar Framework Plan, architects and other figures involved with that plan lead walks around the area, and discuss how they collaborated on urban design.
Those leading tours include Laura Magahy, former director of Temple Bar Properties; architect Shay Cleary whose company designed Curved Street, Arthouse, and Project Arts Centre; and architects Sheila O’Donnell and John Tuomey, who designed the National Photographic Archive, the Gallery of Photography and the Irish Film Centre.
Destruction of Dublin walking tour
Irish Timesjournalist Frank McDonald reflects on the intervening changes at key locations in Dublin since his 1985 book of the same name was published.
Herbert Simms tour
Luas-linked tour of Herbert Simms’ innovative work as Dublin City Housing Architect in the 1930s and 1940s, led by architect Eddie Conroy. Free Luas ticket with tour.
Grand Canal cycle
Guided cycle along the new Dublin City Council Grand Canal Cycleway by architect Bernard Gilna.
Talks and exhibitions:
Cruth Curach, Merrion Square, Dublin 2
This temporary pavilion in the shape of currachs has been created as the result of a design competition run by the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Irish Architecture Foundation to mark Year of Craft 2011.
Designing Spaces for Learning at a Museum, Learning Resource Room, National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Architects Andrew Clancy and Colm Moore discuss the challenges of designing a 21st-century resource in a 19th-century building.
Pivot Dublin, conversations and dialogue, Dublin Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8
Along with Cape Town and Bilbao, Dublin has been shortlisted to be the 2014 World Design Capital. Watch the short films that formed part of Dublin’s pitch for the bid.
The Dead City, Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares, Dublin 2
At 8pm on Saturday there will be whats billed as “a public art performance” in two of Dublin’s great Georgian squares. Properties on the squares will be turning their lights on from 8pm for one hour, to illustrate to the public what the spaces would have looked like when they were residential, not commercial spaces.
Seven Donegal Churches, Darc Space Gallery, North Great George’s Street, Dublin 1
Photographs by Fleming Rasmussen of Liam McCormick’s modernist churches in Donegal, curated by Carole Pollard.
Family events:
Children’s tour of TCD Campus
Special tour for children 5-12 of key buildings at Trinity College Dublin
The house that Jack/Jackie built
Construction-based workshop with Mary Noonan, where children are invited to design and build a fantasy house.
Family tour of Merrion Square
Specially created for families, a child-focused walking tour of the Georgian architecture on Merrion Square
