Tom de Paor

Poor Thomas, didn’t he change his name just to stand out from the crowd? He was Tom Power at college!
But every successful architect must be the master of the soundbite – you need that catchy phrase that will oft be repeated – “less is more” afterall.

By the by, I have often thought that his piece for the Venice Bienniale a few years back, was over-rated, an “hey look at me” cry for notice!

Actually with the thread on Sam, do you think that Tom Power is trying to be the ‘Enfant Terrible’ of our time?

Originally posted by MG
He was Tom Power at college!

True 😉

Saw that site the other week – what’s the pumping station for and why should it be there?

The pumping station is finished now and it looks wonderful. An excellent job.

Some observations

It is said that Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe had two offices, one for his recognised minimalist masterpieces and another which churned out the work to pay for the special projects.

It happens in any business or company, the high volume, cash cow supporting the higher end loss-making expensive product – and Architect is no exception to this rule either. The high end product though, is the flag ship for the company, it is necessary for the prestige. A computer chip company may sell a thousand high end chips to NASA to build a super computer, even though they need to sell 20 million low-end ones to remain profitable. I mean, Intel practically gave the chips to Microsoft’s XBOX product at below cost price – just so Intel would be in the XBOX. You can do that when you are a super-power!

The question of ‘Value for money’ is something I think is a debate really worth the effort nowadays. As traditionally quantity surveyors come in, almost at the end, when it is too late to talk about ROI or viability of a specific project. Just look at the behaviour at the very top with projects like LUAS – what ‘role model’ is that for Architects and clients in everyday dealings?

But what “Critical Regionalism” really boils down to is that you are not over-eager to be seen as internationalist in outlook.

Just see my thread about Society, Politics and Architecture for a good explanation of how regional differences affect Architecture and Planning of the built environment. Just listen to these poor American Planners, and their idea of European-style cities! To them, the ideas of regional variety really does exist – primarily in their minds.

I liked this comment in particular.

“I’m looking for a certain temperature. I know when a project’s cooked. You just know when something has achieved more than the sum of its parts — when, no matter which way you cut it, it comes out the same and there’s no more to do except build it.”

This is something I would agree with too.

“Love modern architecture for its young and zealous practitioners in every country,” advised Ponti. “The future, the mystery of unwearied creation and of human hope lies in their hands.”

Brian O’ Hanlon.

P.S. I think a similar discussion about Architecture, Marketing and talk is actually going on here

do not mock thomas for changing his name!

why believe it or not EL ARCHITINO was once not named like this at all. as a young boy EL ARCHITINO was beaten and taunted because of his name now he never wants to speak of those days again.

EL ARCHITINO applaudes thomas and his quest for an enigmatic name and wishes him all the best of luck in winning the award for the most promising elderly architect in the world.

EL ARCHITNO requests that the microphone be turned off.

I was reading building material #10 and came across the project by de paor architects – ti stella. I’m trying to find out more about it as I’m doing a project re. architecture and the disabled. can anyone help me out? has it been built yet, where etc.
any info would be appreciated.

dont know where youd get more info on the de paor house, very secretive is our tom. but another very interested project built around a disabled person is the bordeaux house by rem koolhaus if you havnt looked at it already.

There was dissertation done in Bolton St last year on architecture and Part M of the building regs

e-mail me and I’ll give U de details

Originally posted by MG
By the by, I have often thought that his piece for the Venice Bienniale a few years back, was over-rated, an “hey look at me” cry for notice!

This project is not over rated. Tom de Paor shows all the promise of being a world leading architect who produces beautiful work, which I doubt is about celebrity. GO TOM DE PAOR GO!!

Well! I must say lol whatever about your opinions on “Pomme de Terre’s” work, you certainly win this month’s award for exhuming the oldest deceased thread.

Originally posted by vinnyfitz
Well! I must say lol whatever about your opinions on “Pomme de Terre’s” work, you certainly win this month’s award for exhuming the oldest deceased thread.

hmmmmmmmm dear vinnny thanks for the award! – it may be the oldest thread – but I still hear people saying it, my opinion is current and after recent works by the talented architect he has proved himself …. also ‘pomme de Terre’ ‘ is a bit insulting – nough said……….

He’s running second in the Archiseek ‘Best youngellas’ poll:
https://archiseek.com/content/showthread.php?s=&postid=23044#post23044

does anyone know if Tom De paor has a web site?
theres a lovely article in this months icon of his pump station in london!

Regarding the fact that its new owner was singing its praises in last month’s Irish architect and is now selling it made me a bit suspect as it now adds to the list of unique designs commissioned by private clients (and presumably tailored to their particular needs) which ended up in the property pages within a matter of months. I’m thinking here also of Boyd Cody’s Mountpleasant Ave. brick house which was put up for auction soon after its completion. I’m not sure what this could be an indication of but perhaps the punters are wising up to the added retail value of a starchitect designed house. It begs the question who are architects designing for and will such trends lessen the desirability of designs which are fine-tuned to the living habits of a particular person/family, something which I believe should not be abandoned in favour of generic marketability.

Tom

Did one on Mountpleasant Terrace which was sold off in 2002 and attracted a large premium; it was a very interesting reworking of an early 19th century house which was extensively reworked into a high quality modern space and is unashamedly modern in a mixed period/contemporary setting.

There is definitely a financial benefit to hiring so called ‘startchitects’ for such projects as both the planners and the market will go further to see these projects through than they otherwise would.

It will be interesting to see what the Killiney house makes as against what a less well designed house would close by.

You’re not referring to the criminally detailed house on the corner are you? I’m a big admirer of Tom but that house is really hard to defend aesthetically

I think thats the one you are talking about as no signature architect has done anything on that specific stretch since Anglea Jupe which must be25 years ago at this stage. 😮

There have been some very good mews type buildings done in the general area so it is possible that our wires may be crossed as there have also been some very poor ones done as well.

I like the way he removed what was a very miserable entrance and replaced it with the timber entrance on the side gable. The problem with that house was that you had a large number of very small rooms which simply wouldn’t have been desireable; by knocking the groundfloor more or less open plan the space has been transformed. 😉

For a good whinge on this site you should look at the farmhouse at the eastern side where post disposal a two storey a rectangular box was just lumped onto the back what was a much nicer farmhouse and they didn’t even have the decency to cover up the black plastic water tank. 😡

I’ve never seen any shots of the interior, are there any on the net? I thought that the timber addition along the gable was interesting (it’s gone now isnt it?) and very de Paorish with it’s diagonal boards, the finish left a lot to be desired however and it was never a million miles away from the work of a stoned wood work student with average joinery skills. My favourite part of this building is the subtle skewed entrance on the other gable with the fetishistic use of the traditional black and white door bell. I heard that the house next door is for another member of the Irish rugby team ( didnt Shane Horgan buy 0 or minus 1?). But for a true abortion of a mews development check out what’s just gone up around the corner, I’d love to post an image of it but that particular skill eludes me on this message board (any tips?)

@PVC King wrote:

It will be interesting to see what the Killiney house makes as against what a less well designed house would close by.

There is not much of a premium at that price. Recent house sales (last summer) were Hawk Cliff, a boxy 1960’s bungalow with a crappy extension on Vico Rd made 5+ and another, adjoining TP’s design made about 6. Very few houses come on the market in that area (it’s Dalkey BTW) and trying to get PP is a nightmare – the Dalkey Tealadies and Wimmins Institute see to that. A site with PP goes for about 2 million, so start from there. (Meccano will run you up a design;) )
KB

@Paul Clerkin wrote:

From the property supplement….

sold for “over €6million”. Reckon Tom gets a cut?