Museum of Treasures

[StephenC]

Waterford's stunning new Medieval Museum opened to the public yesterday. Based within the historic core, just off The Mall, the new museum building sits to the rear of the Royal Theatre and above the ruins of the medieval Choirsters Hall.

The building was designed and executed by Waterford City Architects

[StephenC]

[StephenC]

[StephenC]

[Peter Fitz]

Wowser!

[StephenC]

The façade of the new building is carved from Bath sandstone and the sculpture references a small item of jewellery on show in the museum. Its is believed to represent the Biblical character Ruth. The façade also includes an element of oak palisade, again referencing a line of fortification that ran along here in medieval times. The underneath of the overhang is gilded, harking back to the decorative features of the middle ages. There has been a lot of thought put into the design, and I really don't do it justice by my recollection of the description.

I think the museum is a brilliant. The collection inside are superb and hugely interesting. Most interesting is the focus on Waterford's royal connections from King Henry II through to James II. The story of the city in the Georgian period and beyond is told in the adjoining Bishop's Palace.

[StephenC]

The vision for this part of the city is a breath of fresh air from the inertia and mediocrity of Dublin. The medieval museum, the Bishop's Palace, Reginald's Tower, Christ Church cathedral and the new Waterford Crystal Centre on The Mall will all combine to create a district of high quality attractions in Waterford.

There is a strong focus on public realm. Cathedral Square is to be relaid and future plans also call for the refurbishment of historic buildings onto the square, all now owned by the City Council.

[StephenC]

[StephenC]

Beautiful Christ Church Cathedral

http://archiseek.com/2009/1779-christch ... DvOGMFlQzc

[StephenC]

And finally a few pictures of the interiors of the Bishops Palace.

http://archiseek.com/2009/1746-bishops- ... DvOrMFlQzc

Formerly in use as City Council offices, the building has now been very extensively restored to showcase artefacts and art from Waterford's Georgian and Victorian past. The house has been furnished with some very lovely period pieces of furniture. The upper rooms include a library, salon, dinning room and a study. Downstairs is in use as a cafe and reception while the grand hall has also been restores. Its really worth a visit.

[StephenC]

Right, my work on behalf of Waterford City Council is done :-)

Well worth a visit down though. Puts Dublin without a city museum to shame.

http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/

[gunter]

the junction between the Deanery and the new museum building


the view east towards the Deanery with the entrance to the new museum building on the right

I came across this little gem by chance a couple of weeks ago and was genuinely gobsmacked. It wasn't open yet so I can't comment on the interior, or the exhibition, but that creamy stonework is of unbelievable quality. Some of the curves looked a bit crumpled to my eye, but that could have just been my eye, and anyway you would forgive anything for stonework this creamy.

Hats off to the Council architects responsible for this, and just in time too, I don't think I could have taken another John Roberts love-in.

[Paul Clerkin]

Was trying to figure out what the first photo made me thing of. And now I have it. Think of images of the 1939 Irish Pavilion at New York Worlds Fair, the images with the awnings along the glass, with the sculpture on the end wall - this is reminiscent of it, albeit in stone, with the stone ripples instead of fabric awnings.

[StephenC]

Aww you're cruel. But right nonetheless..

[Paul Clerkin]

I'm not taking away from it by the comparison - pity about the (I assume) emergency exit in the end wall.

[Bago]

Beautiful piece of work, very strong, reminds me of mussolini era italian architecture, big stone facades with stone reliefs.