definer of turn of the century Dublin Architecture

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    • #708311
      garrettcarr
      Participant

      Hello everyone.
      I would like to know what you make of the following statement. It is made, by me, in relation to buildings like the Esat Building near Charlotte Quay (now a bank I believe) and the new construction along Sir John Rogersons Quay.

      “Glass is the overwhelming impression you get from this new Dublin business sector. Many of them hardly display a square foot of masonry, new techniques and new fittings have enabled us to create entire facades of glass. Even ten years ago you would not have seen glass only fronts; the pure glass façade may prove to be a definer of turn of the century Dublin Architecture.”

      Do you think that “the pure glass façade may prove to be a definer of turn of the century Dublin Architecture” is a defendable stance?

      Thank you. Merry Christmas.
      Garrett

    • #764335
      kefu
      Participant

      I would think that the “pure glass facade” is one of four particularly common forms of modern architecture in Dublin, the others being the use of wood panelling (Wooden Building, Temple Bar) and also the stone protruding facades of the National Gallery and Roches Stores. I’m sure there’s a better word for this technique. You also see it at Meeting House Square. Last but not least is the use of copper, sometimes very effectively and sometimes just as a nod to modern design.

    • #764336
      GrahamH
      Participant

      Yes, there’s comparitively few ‘pure glass’ facades in Dublin when one considers all development taking place out there. If anything, I would think the stone tile to be the definer of turn-of-the-century Dublin architecture.
      Very few commercial buildings do not use thin stone cladding in one form or another, and many use it on a large scale. It being by no means confined to the capital, you see it right around the country too, and has gone surprisingly uncommented upon.

      The traditional cladding material has of course been brick, shrouding concrete structures, and by the nature of the material it’s generally accepted to be a facade, a cloaking surface, when used on a large scale.
      By contrast, the modern-day use of stone tiles attempts to give the impression the stonework is the structure itself, and is not a mere cladding material. The use of deep-modelled walls, window reveals in particular, try to give the impression that it is the core superstructure on view in a way that brick never quite attempted so boldly.

      I find it an increasing boring, cheap and often lazy practice – build a concrete frame, and stick tiles all over it, like children applying squares of fancy paper with Pritstick to an ugly core of kitchen roll.
      If done well it can be successful, but not when no attempt is evenmade to even disguise thin and poorly formed corners.

      Saying that, the new look former Dept of Justice on Stephen’s Green south is all glass:

    • #764337
      fergalr
      Participant

      Looks kind of bland, doesn’t it?
      I don’t think entirely glass facades look proper on a georgian square.

    • #764338
      Paul Clerkin
      Keymaster

      Oh I dunno – they’re attempting to replicate the rhtym of several georgian houses, and it almost works. I assume that opening is still to be closed up?

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