1993 – Temple Bar Square, Dublin

One of three new public spaces in the Temple Bar area – the others being the Curved Street and Meetinghouse Square, Temple Bar Square was created by setting back a new range of buildings from the existing street line. The main building by Grafton Architects facing onto the square is of mixed use containing apartments, shop units and several restaurants. This building is designed as a steel grid containing differing infill panels – engineering brick and glass as well as some open areas. The architects treated the surface as a taut canvas stretched between the steel grid. A central void allows light into the apartments – all of which have private terraces or access to a common roof garden. The square in front of the building is rather windswept with a few trees and light fittings. As a public space it doesn’t succeed like Meetinghouse Square which is used for public events and markets.

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