Hello, nice Irish architecture folks!!

Seth Powell here, American and in love with architecture & cities. I've been reading about this "Dublin" you've all got over there, and I found out that celebrated 18th century architect James Gandon lost yes LOST a contest to design the Royal Exchange Building (now City Hall); the commission was instead awarded to one Thomas Cooley (sp?). I've also read that many folks felt Gandon's design was actually superior (having seen photos of Gandon's major works, plus of Cooley's building, I, um... have an easy time believing them).

Does anyone know where I might find sketches of Gandon's (alas) 2nd place entry?

Many thanks. Happy.. uh.. Happy... oh, heck, be happy.

sjp

Have you tried contacting the Irish Architectural Archive - http://www.archeire.com/iaa/ - they may have something or know if the designs actually still exist.

I think you denigrate Cooley's building too easily. Granted it isnt Gandon's Custom Huuse but then many of Gandon's other buildings aren't up to that standard either.

Take the King's Inns [finished by Henry Aaron Baker] - its main facade onto Constitution Hill is bland and unconvincing while its most impressive view is from Henrietta Street where very little can be seen of the main blocks.

The Four Courts is heavy with a too-shallow portico and overly heavy drum. Like the Custome House and Kings Inns, this benefits from being built on a flat site. Cooley had to contend with an awkwardly sloping site on Cork Hill for his Royal Exchange.

I didn't denigrate Cooley's building. I just said that I had read that many folks preferred Gandon's design. You yourself said that Cooley's Royal Exchange is no Custom House; which is really all that I said to begin with. For all I know, Gandon's Royal Exchange plans were no good; I just want to see them for myself.

(Here on America's West Coast, all we get so see of Dublin is two or three snapshots in the travel guidebooks - CustomHouse-Ha'pennyBridge-TrinityCollege-goodnight. I'm here on these boards to learn more.)

sjp

Did you ever have any luck?

The late Hugo Duffy attempted in his 1999 book, James Gandon and His Times, to reconstruct Gandon's lost design for the Royal Exchange. Duffy based his attempted reconstruction (plan, section, elevation) on surviving contemporary written descriptions of Gandon's design, which are quoted at length in the book.

(Incidentally, James Hoban, who went on to design the White House in Washington, once worked as an assistant to Thomas Cooley.)