2018 – Grafton Architects design for Dublin Central Library

Joint proposal by Grafton Architects with Shaffrey Architects for a new city library based on Parnell Square alongside the Hugh Lane Gallery. The intention of the project was to deliver 5,500 square metres of modern, bright open spaces for reading and lending, as well as a variety of spaces for studying, working, meeting, creating and performing. Facilities were to include a welcoming library for children and young adults, a makerspace, meeting rooms and study spaces, as well as a multi-purpose conference centre, a café and exhibition areas.

Intended to develop the area as a cultural quarter by building significant cultural venues around the Hugh Lane Gallery. The gallery is acknowledged as one of the most significant city galleries in Europe. Through its diversity of programmes it is a major contributor to the cultural vibrancy of Dublin and to the city’s reputation as a leading European cultural capital city.

The vision for the City Library will be a meeting place for both people and ideas. It will be a place where people can learn, create and participate. It will house contemporary library collections and spaces for reading, listening, watching, playing, researching or thinking. The brief comprises 11,500sqm of Library space including an Auditorium, Music Hub, Education Centre, Intercultural Centre and Retail areas.

In any era of civilisation, to make a library is a gift to citizens and real belief in the future. To make a 21st century city library is to make an Imagination Hub; a place for the democratic gathering of citizens, to provide a facilitator of creative Life.

The City Library, set beside the existing Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane will be at the heart of this dynamic cultural quarter at Parnell Square. The Gallery is acknowledged as one of the most significant city galleries in Europe. Through its diversity of programmes it is a major contributor to the cultural vibrancy of Dublin and to the city’s reputation as a leading European cultural capital city.
Grafton Architects

The design process started in 2014 with some images published in 2016 indicating a design with a 50:50 split of old and new builds. The illustrations here are from the October 2018 architects’ design statement to An Bord Pleanala.

In 2021, at the request of Dublin City Council, the design team led by Grafton and Shaffrey Architects was invited to submit a fee with an associated programme for the detailed design work stages etc. to project completion. DCC representatives met Grafton and Shaffrey Architects in September 2021 to ensure there was clarity around both the fee proposal and the programme submission. Following an analysis of the submitted proposal, the steering board of the PSCQ decided not to accept the design team fee. The reason for the rejection, which was relayed to the design teams, was that the fee proposed was unacceptable to DCC.

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