Collins Barracks
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OPW plans £34m National Museum extension
The Office of Public Works is to seek planning permission this week for the next phase of the National Museum at Collins Barracks in Dublin. The project, costing an estimated £34 million, aims to reinstate the missing central square of the former Royal Barracks, which was demolished in 1890 after being in continuous use since it was built in 1701.
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/ireland/2001/1217/hom2.htmWhy did they demolish the central range?
I read the history of this barracks before, I’m not 100% sure about the central range but when the barracks was built the Palatine square was completely enclosed with access via archways. The walls were built of rubble masonry with cut stone outer facing. Shortly after the barracks opened it was found that there was not enough fresh air circulating around the barrack square and the rubble masonry stared to smell foul. This resulted in soldiers fainting on the parade ground in summer. The problem was solved by comppletely openeing the four corners of the square. This may have something to do with the central range.
Regards
POB
Paletine….the minimalism of it’s day!
[This message has been edited by GregF (edited 25 January 2002).]
According to the Times planning list the OPW have an application in which includes the Croppy Arce. Does anyone know what they planning, the Croppy Acre is awful at the moment but it would be creepy to build on it with it being a grave.
With the new plans announced for the reinstatement of the missing middle block, theyve recently added some lights to the esplanade along Benburb Street overlooking the ‘acre’. Any thoughts?
i don’t think thay have quite the same sense of style as the smithfield versions. i was out there last weekend and was struck by how top heavy the fittings seem, especially when you approach them at an angle and read them almost as a single mass.They may have looked better when drawn in front and side elevation, but from underneath they look a bit clunky and ponderous.
What is the timescale for the replacment of the central range of builidings?
Some argue about the value of re-instating a missing part of what was an ensemble of military buildings that looked imposing in any of the historical images that i have seen.
I’m not against the idea. I remember seeing the original proposal for the replacement building by the OPW and was not very impressed, a sort of precursor to the Millenium Wing of the NGI, hybridised with an exploded version of the TCD Berkely Library.The original complex looked quite imposing on the hill over the river and i wonder if any proposed modern replacement would have the same effect?
Looks like the aliens from the movie War of the Worlds…..they look good however…..is the architecture around here up to scratch to match.
Some illustrations of the proposal from the OPW site.
Main Gallery looking West from East Wing at Second Floor
Modified WestwingThe central court, normally grand and empty
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[ATTACH]6275[/ATTACH]Not so empty anymore;
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[ATTACH]6272[/ATTACH]The Sea Stallion of Glendalough will reside here for, a year.. or so, not sure. Don’t miss it!
I think large-scale exhibitions in the central square there are a fine idea. It’s fairly soulless the rest of the time and -seeing the space is itself a feature of the museum- having it empty sort of presses the museum to the walls around it and leaves it feeling sort of incomplete or temporary.
Theres a similar problem with the IMMA, although the courtyard isn’t so large and the architecture is more interesting. I think Craig-Martin put a large artwork running round the arcade there a year or so back. Its something that should be done more often.
Sometimes I thing that the Royal hospital is the wrong place for the IMMA. Contempary art needs to be veiwed in a contempary setting.
@PTB wrote:
Sometimes I thing that the Royal hospital is the wrong place for the IMMA.
You can’t be serious.
I am. I just think that moderm art is better viewed in a modern setting, and the Royal hospital isn’t the best place for that. I’m not sure what should go in the Royal Hospital but I would much prefer the IMMA to be somewhere else.
Perhaps the NGI could put some of it’s stored paintings on show in the Royal hospital. They do have something like 12,000 paintings in their vaults
I really need to work on my sarcasm.
@PTB wrote:
Perhaps the NGI could put some of it’s stored paintings on show in the Royal hospital. They do have something like 12,000 paintings in their vaults
Would you believe I was thinking exactly the same thing! It must be a good idea.
And many of the paintings in storage are very fine works. Even the ones that aren’t have huge historical value and interest. And there are plenty of other real works of art that could be exhibited in the Hospital instead of that modernist nonsense. The Archaeological museum is well known to be badly in need of space, with tonnes of stuff sitting uselessly in storage. Just look at the recently opened little exhibitions of roman artifiacts and the Cyprian pottery one – those artifacts had been lying in museum drawers for years. Another thing they could use the Hospital for is a decent National Portrait gallery- with all the hundreds of fascinating portraits from the last 4 centuries rarely seen by the public. The Ormonde picture collection could also be housed here, since Kilkenny Castle just won’t let people see the paintings. And so on.
The present situation though is really intolerable, with mini -bars and fridges regularly being hauled into the chapel, for parties and ‘events’ (!) – One of the finest Baroque interiors in Ireland and Britain! – and meanwhile – it’s generally innaccesible to the public!
I visited about a year ago, and, shocked at finding the Hospital Chapel closed to visitors, asked the guy at reception if I could visit the chapel. He seemed bemused, wondering why on Earth I wanted to see the chapel! Then I learn, to visit it, you must go on a tour , arranged by the OPW, and he gave me someone’s phone number!
Ridiculous.
I really need to work on my sarcasm.
The sarcasm mark.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarcasm_markAnd many of the paintings in storage are very fine works. Even the ones that aren’t have huge historical value and interest. And there are plenty of other real works of art that could be exhibited in the Hospital instead of that modernist nonsense. The Archaeological museum is well known to be badly in need of space, with tonnes of stuff sitting uselessly in storage. Just look at the recently opened little exhibitions of roman artifiacts and the Cyprian pottery one – those artifacts had been lying in museum drawers for years. Another thing they could use the Hospital for is a decent National Portrait gallery- with all the hundreds of fascinating portraits from the last 4 centuries rarely seen by the public. The Ormonde picture collection could also be housed here, since Kilkenny Castle just won’t let people see the paintings. And so on.
Why stop at Dublin? They could send out paintings to other Cities like the Guggenheims round the world.
NGI Cork
NGI Limerick
NGI Galway
etc,.I visited about a year ago, and, shocked at finding the Hospital Chapel closed to visitors, asked the guy at reception if I could visit the chapel. He seemed bemused, wondering why on Earth I wanted to see the chapel! Then I learn, to visit it, you must go on a tour , arranged by the OPW, and he gave me someone’s phone number!
I’ve encountered the same problem, even though I was with a group of architects who clearly wanted to see the Chapel and who would have been greatly privleged to see the cuilding. Honestly, how hard can it be to open the place every morning and close it again in the evening?
If the Oireachtas had moved in, there’s a good chance UCD wouldn’t have moved out to Belfield.
Missed opportunities…
@ctesiphon wrote:
If the Oireachtas had moved in, there’s a good chance UCD wouldn’t have moved out to Belfield.
Missed opportunities…
Indeed, but would UCD have found £IR17 Million to “do up” the gaff in the midst of the 80’s depression like our dearly departed benign dictator did? Also the famous UCD inferiority complex may not have been there had they been housed in something approaching Trinity’s elegance:)
Slight difference eh?
Come now, alonso. You know, surely, that it’s not so straight ahead.
To name just one complicating factor, UCD spent a small fortune on the acquisition of lands around Belfield, starting in 1934 and continuing to the present day, so it’s not as if the money wasn’t there or couldn’t have been found. I’ve no doubt that it wouldn’t have spent the same amount as Charlo on the refurb of the Webb buildings, but I can’t see that as a bad thing.
Although if Herr Brady had been in charge at the time…
Anyway, we’re getting off topic.
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