Best modern building in Ireland
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Just thought, I’d counteract these negative posts around, here with something a bit more positive.
So, lets have your opinions. What is the best modern building in Ireland.
By modern I mean post WW2. Doesn’t have to be strictly modernist.
Personally, I’d have to say. although some people hate it, i’m a big fan of the Bank of Ireland building on Baggot Street, by Scott Tallon Walker.
It’s simple, well proportioned, contrasts nicely, with the georgian buildings around it, but doesn’t overshadow them. It gives off an air of professionalism and authority, that you would want with a bank, but also has a welcoming plaza.
Also, unlike most buildings from the 60’s/70’s, the aging process, has made it look better.
So, what are yours? Post pictures, if possible.
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There was a map of Dublin at the recent AAI awards retrospective exhibition and people were invited to vote for their favorite/ least favorite building in Dublin by sticking pins in the map.
Although it was treated rather lightly I do believe that the (unofficial) results were:
Best:
1:Berkely Library, Trinity – ABK
2: Ranelagh School – Odonnell + Tuomey
3: Beckett Theatre, Trinity – de Balcam + MeagherWorst:
1: Combined most votes were for general Anthony Reddy buildings.
2: New Building beside city hall : MBN
3: Apartment Building on Clanbrassil St. – Henry J Lyons -
Since they are buildings i use quite a bit, I think the Berkely Library, the TCD arts building and the Ussher library are all fantastic, the Berkely looks great, the arts building is fantastically tuned for it intended use and the Ussher is a good compromise between the two.
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Best
Central Bank Dublin
Ulster Bank complex (Canary Dwarf included) -
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@Paul Clerkin wrote:
just leave the worst out of it – there’s loads of those threads on here
Misread – Amended now
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Not sure this is the ‘best’, but I rather like Trinity’s new student centre on the corner on Pearse street and Westland Row. I love how it exposes all the activity inside as you walk down Pearse street, reminds me of the good ol’ days :-).
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I am interested you like the new tcd gym JoePublic, I amn’t a huge fan but I like the aspect you allude to, the view of the climbing wall and into the exercise room. On the other side the exercise room overlooks the pool, it is nicely thought out. One funny thing is the windows to the swimming pool on the other side face the DART and even when you are swimming the crawl you can tell when a DART is passing by the change in the light.
This building is half gym, the other half is the Center for Understanding NanoTechnology with a “Science Gallery” on the ground floor, you can see this as you walk along the Pearse Street facade, it has a Penrose Tiling on the floor. Eventually it will host hopefully exciting science themed exhibits aimed at teenagers and adults, the director is Michael John Gorman who organized the Robots in Dublin event when he worked at the arc.
BTW this is the gym, not the student center, the old gym is being changed into a student center, space for them to hang out, host small gigs etc, the old gym is Luce Hall, the cube at an awkward angle to Pearse Street just beyond the DART line, it is a reminder that STW used to do interesting, if in this case not very successful, buildings.
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O’Donnell & Tuomy’s Glucksman Gallery U.C.C. Cork.
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Ok, I can’t pick one of anything so here’s my few …
Busaras, immediately post ww2 & taking that in to account it is in a league of its own, with little to challenge it’s bravery since.
Carrolls, Dundalk
Central Bank
In general, the above have aged beautifully, there’s plenty of modern stuff to choose from but with the exception of CIT and a few others, its difficult to say how they’ll rate on the naffometer in 20 years time.
I’ll stick my neck out on the last one, no graceful aging here! but thats not exactly her fault now is it. Either way, i do concede that it would most likely have required at least a glazing refit at this stage.
Soon to be erased, Liberty Hall.
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Ulster Museum Belfast…the extension bit
fantastically brutal -
Thats an interesting image of Liberty Hall there. The fact that you can see through the corners gives it a very airy look, makes the whole thing seem very light. Is it still possible to see that? Is there different glazing on it now?
Back on topic – yeah the Glucksman and Busaras I think are the two main contenders. Both cropped up in ‘1001 buildings to see before you die’ at least as far I could see from a quick glance (30 minutes) in the bookshop.
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I believe Liberty Hall changed its glazing a while back to mirrored glass. I agree, it looked much better before.
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@PTB wrote:
Thats an interesting image of Liberty Hall there. The fact that you can see through the corners gives it a very airy look, makes the whole thing seem very light. Is it still possible to see that? Is there different glazing on it now?
That shot shows the original glazing alright … all info on this thread PTB
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Yep – though I think the mirror glass has its own qualities, as mentioned before. It regularly catches the piercing western light much more dramatically than below (last week), but you get the idea. On balance though, a transparent look is probably best alright.
And absolutely: the Central Bank rightly earns a place 😉
The view from Lord Edward Street is by far the most spectacular, as it looms over the curving terrace of muddling little creatures sweeping down Dame Street. It actually makes the buildings along that terrace come alive – they appear to have a certain movement in contrast to the deadpan stoical father figure glowering above 🙂
Probably my favourite modern building in Ireland at the minute, and indeed a favourite generally, has to be de Blacam and Meagher’s 1 Castle Street in Dublin (though in fact it’s less salubrious Werburgh Street Dublin 6, not Dublin 2 ;)). It’s just so exquisitely polite it’s positively ingratiating.
It’s one of the most layered buildings in the city, skillfully addressing every facet of its context, and even delving back to the Midde Ages in its nod towards a cagework house. The lines sharp and tailored, the materials soft and engaging, the overall form modest yet confident. It’s just beautiful, and it genuinely lifts my spirits to see it: which is as far as I’m concerned is the ultimate compliment for any structure.
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I have to agree with peter fitzpatrick about Busaras, possibly the most amazing modern building in Dublin!! The mosaic finishes everywhere are exquisite!
😀
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ulster museum gets my vote.
I agree with the comment about the view of the central bank from lord edward st. id allways thought that it made the temple bar area resemble one of those american muscle cars of the 70s with its engine bulging out of the bonnet.
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What happened with the plan to demolish the brutalist Ulster Museum extension that Shane O’Toole wrote about about a year ago? Is it going ahead? Sounded like it would be a crime …..
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Ok thanks.
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Letterfrack. Hands down the best embodyment of an ‘Irish’ modern architecture. As opposed to the mediocre examples of international modernism or brutalism shown above. There are countless examples of brutalism and international modernism that are far better in a variety of other countries. Letterfrack is a uniquly resonant building.
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i’ve heard nothing but bad things from people who have used or visited letterfrack in the last few years.
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Such as?
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yep that Letterfrack building is utter tripe, leaking all over the shop, they had to use the old canteen in the community hall next door for the first year of operation because the architects forgot sanitary facilities to meet food and hygeine standards, the machine room is badly laid out, doesnt avail of natural light or inspiring views in any of the design rooms, and dont even get me started on how that untreated timber and concrete is fairing in the inclement western weather…. its going to be an embarrasment at that easa architecture thing coming up in August there…. someone buy OD&T a one way ticket to the next biennale ,,
by the way the picture above , supposedly of the furniture college , is really a picture of a couple of mountains basking in the purple haze of connemara, the buildings in the shade in the forground could be a nuclear reactor for all the impact it would make, given the scale in the photo… unless the architects are taking credit for building the mountain too.
best modern post WW2 building in ireland doesnt exist the aforementioned are simply vying for the title of least mediocre post WW2 buidling in Ireland… they are all ‘meaningless monstrosities’ 😀
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That photograph is about context, connecting with place .i.e. the whole point of the project.
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The case for BostonorBerlin = mickletterfrack grows stronger.
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@what? wrote:
That photograph is about context, connecting with place .i.e. the whole point of the project.
the scale of the photo is so one-sided erring towards the mountain that theres no sense of context or connecting with place… .as I said that could be 3-mile island in the foreground but its in such shade and so small you’d get away with it… take a more representative shot where the building and the background are equally weighted and Id argue there is no link between the two. Thats why you get two types of shots of that building, real close up feature stuff and way off distant images of mountain, heather and bog and oh the building too….
I was just adding some meat to the point raised by sw101 , take it up with him… @sw101 wrote:
i’ve heard nothing but bad things from people who have used or visited letterfrack in the last few years..
I dont want to divert this thread away from its intent ‘The Best Modern Building In Ireland… or is that all done and the votes are in, in which case …yawn…zzzzzz..
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nice shot I stand corrected…
great to see all that light coming from the prevailing sunpath pouring in through all those windows bathing
the inhaitants in a warm glow ..much appreciated after the harsh winters.. ,,the use of solar panels is indeed groundbreaking again maximising the sunpath…
and the way all those doorways and windows to the design rooms in the bunkeresue athway underneath
are again utilising natural light to inspire creativity ..well what can I say.. maybe we should just make ODT Irelands permanent representitives at all design events.I would contend that all the elements presented in this thread as meritous aspects to other modern buildings are lacking in this one.
The new hospital addition in Cork isnt half bad.
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I have the opportunity to pass the Multi Denominational School in Ranelagh a bit these days.The more I look at it, the more I think it is one of the best modern buildings in Dublin, if not Ireland.
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We might disagree on 1 Castle Street, but not here. I’ve long thought this to be the best thing produced in this country in the last 10-15 years.
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🙂 ha ha. Poor old Castle Street…
Yeah, I think I just admire the way this building is so subtle in terms of its setting.
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