Building on Sean McDermott St.
- This topic has 95 replies, 34 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 2 months ago by
.
- Posts
@Paul Clerkin wrote:
It would indeed and like said above, would still be in is original area.
What say championing it as an archeire campaign?
@hutton wrote:
What say championing it as an archeire campaign?
How’s that done? (Thanks for the welcome hutton 🙂 )
The park you’ve all mentioned is the first one that came to mind actually. They’ve haven’t done a bad job on it, and it would be a nice addition. Not sure about it as an entrance, but it would make a great folly of sorts.
Is that true about the Abbey facade??
A little bit more info on this building –
It was built by a Scottish architect called Fergusson, and actually dates from c.1850 – some 30 years later than one would think:eek:! It was abandoned in the early 20th century – probably around the time of UK Govt of Ireland Act, and subsequently was used as a granary storage depot. Finally in the 1980’s it burnt down – possibly arson – and all but the facade was pulled down. A very sad story indeed. 🙁 🙁 🙁
BTW Aoife, that is totally true re thje Abbey facade – I have the info on excellent authority 😉
Thanks for that hutton – some pictures to put the building in context on Killarney Street:
With the new convent? development going up behind – it’s actually not bad:
…as part of this project:
Though the juxtaposing is still hideous:
The facade is needless to say in dismal condition – the main entrance:
One of the delightful flanking doorcases – tiny little things (this is taken from the ground!)
The columns and steps – a few tests have been made in cleaning them in places, not really evident here though:
The stunning Greek sculptures adorning the pediment, one of the most impressive parts of the building:
A rather eroded granite capital and entab:
All in all, the most charming little building; its appeal stemming from a completely unassuming character, and minute but perfect proportions.
I don’t like the notion of moving it one little bit, but on balance it shamefully does need to be done – it’s completely overpowered by its new neighbour. It’s such a pity, as it fitted into that miniature streetscape so well, with the tiny little Victorians also alongside – a classic Dublin street scene. However if it is to be moved (and yes it should stay in the general area), it would be nice for it to address the street in its new home. It’s not until you walk past it and stand underneath its portico that you realise what a shame it would be to have it so stunted in a public park.
Just a pity the law didn’t intervene 20 years ago.
Hi there,
I’m a new member to this site so I’m not sure of the etiquette. But I came across a thread which you were a part of in 2006 about the Greek facade Presbyterian church on Sean McDermott Street – I’m trying to find out more about the convent on that same street as I’ve noticed recently that has that little planning sign on it, like a mark of death I’m afraid! I would really like to know more about this – I would like to get inside it before its knocked down or turned inside out or whatever the developers have in store for it! could you maybe point me in the right direction? I am an artist who is very interested in urban planning, spatial relations and power relations, as well as the bureaucratic language of planning and development. Thanks! 🙂
@AoifeR wrote:
Hi,
Simple question…maybe not so simple, but we’ll see…could anyone tell me what the Greek-looking building on Sean McDermott St. is?
I walked down that street for the first time the other day and this building (though it’s in an awful state) stands out a mile in contrast to the flats and other dreadful buildings around it.
I coudn’t see anything on it that would identify it for me. It’s got some Greek script across the front, but I can’t read Greek… Any info would be greatly appreciated, it’s spiked my curiosity and I won’t be able to rest till I know what it is!
Thanks,
Aoife
From what I can gather, the church was built from 1845-1846 by Duncan Ferguson, a drawing master at the Royal Dublin Society. Well before 1900, it had been converted to a flour mill.
Praxiteles has been unable to see the full text of the inscription, bt what he has seen translates as [Dedicated?] fo God our Saviour. If you can get the full inscription we shall have a further look. DIsgraceful what has happened to the facade. So much for the Dublin CIty Council’s committment to architecture/heritage.
@jdf wrote:
Hi there,
I’m a new member to this site so I’m not sure of the etiquette. But I came across a thread which you were a part of in 2006 about the Greek facade Presbyterian church on Sean McDermott Street – I’m trying to find out more about the convent on that same street as I’ve noticed recently that has that little planning sign on it, like a mark of death I’m afraid! I would really like to know more about this – I would like to get inside it before its knocked down or turned inside out or whatever the developers have in store for it! could you maybe point me in the right direction? I am an artist who is very interested in urban planning, spatial relations and power relations, as well as the bureaucratic language of planning and development. Thanks! 🙂
The Irish Catholic Directory tell us that the Convent in Lower Sean McDermott Street was that of the sisters of Our Lady of Charity. They can be contacted at their Provincialate, 3 Beechlawn, High Park Grounds, Grace Park Road, Dumcondra, Dublin 9. Tel: 01 8368887 or 8368828 or e-mail olcireland@eircom.net
I’m very interested in the fate of this little remnant on SMcDSt. It was designed by Duncan C Ferguson in 1845/6 and
‘ closed within several decades of completion’ (Pevsner Architectural Guides – Dublin; Yale UP 2005, p.137), being then used as a grainstore. The Presbyterian use of the Doric order probably refers back to their Scottish origins – bluff northern types, not like the effete (Ionic) southerners. (‘Doric’ is used as another name for the Scots (Lowland) language.)
It deserves a much better fate and should be used as a frontispiece or centrepiece for something, preferably in situ or as close to it as possible.@Devin wrote:
There’s a plan to consume it within a glazed building. Planning Ref. 1174/08 :
Too high and out of proportion to the portico.
@jdf wrote:
I’m trying to find out more about the convent on that same street as I’ve noticed recently that has that little planning sign on it, like a mark of death I’m afraid! I would really like to know more about this – I would like to get inside it before its knocked down or turned inside out or whatever the developers have in store for it! could you maybe point me in the right direction? I am an artist who is very interested in urban planning, spatial relations and power relations, as well as the bureaucratic language of planning and development. Thanks! 🙂
I believe the convent site is to be part of a new civic centre incorporating a theatre, a civic information centre and other community spaces.
From what I can gather there will also be apartments on the site and the convent building will form one of the blocks.Maskhadov: You’re just a vandal – ‘clear the front facade’! The design to incorporate it in a glazed box just illustrates the timidity and lack of imagination of ‘modernist’ architecture. Are contemporary architects afraid of voids and solids? Have they no sense of proportion? Are they illiterate in the classical language of architecture? Are they just bad architects? Is this decade just a repeat of the deadly 60s and 70s?
Sadly, all too often I suspect there is a belief that ‘glass = invisible’: All that is solid melts into air, right? :rolleyes:
@ctesiphon wrote:
Sadly, all too often I suspect there is a belief that ‘glass = invisible’: All that is solid melts into air, right? :rolleyes:
“Oh, would that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew” .
@Praxiteles wrote:
“Oh, would that this too too solid flesh would melt, thaw and resolve itself into a dew” .
Wishful thinking, my troubled prince.
‘And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust?’
What a piece of work is this man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties,
Kb.Ah, Im afraid I cant keep up with you folks and your secondary school Shakespeare quotes 🙂
Anyhow, what an odd montage! That the proposer has managed to include 9 vehicles in the foreground is quite an accomplishment…
The facade is lost in the glazed box. Bizarre that the lampost is left in front with that flag being a further visual obstruction. Why is the facade not presented as being clean and pristine – it is afterall Wicklow granite.
I cant describe this treatment and its relation the facade as an “afterthought”, as the facade predates the proposed glass box; is “a pre-thought” the best description?
All in all, the Greek Revival facade seems to be in the way of the architect; given what’s preposed, maybe the best thing is to carefully take the facade out, and with dev levies, locate it elsewhere – the original context is long since lost anyhow 🙁
Btw am I correct to presume that the giddy brown box further down the street is some sort of military installation?
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
