How well do you know Dublin?
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Still contentious I see.
Back in 1995 the OPW were faced with a dilemma. They’d just completed the last bells and whistles restoration job at the Castle, encompassing for the first time the restoration of the vast majority of buildings to the rear of the site surrounding the former ‘Pound’. It also of course included the conversion of the Pound itself into the Dubh Linn Garden.
Yet when heads of state and their entourages were due to alight from their helicopters, they would be greated by the glowering rendered rump of the Bermingham Tower, St. Patrick’s Hall and Entrance Block of the State Apartments, none of which had ever received any architectural treatment over their 250 year history, in contrast to the Bedroom Block to the east.
Hence in the spirit of the hedonistic, faintly patronising, and we’ve-reached-the-end-point approach to art and architecture of the 1990s, it was decided – tongue firmly in cheek – to acknowledge the lack of architectural treatment of this part of the State Apartments by painting its constituent parts various colours (which were well chosen and strategically positioned).
In spite of it not quite washing with puzzled tourists (heck Dublin Castle full stop is a puzzle to tourists), I think it works to dramatic effect. Impact without major intervention, and giving a whole new dimension to the rear of the State Apartments. A rare instance of the painting over of historic render being acceptable.
To actually raise a real contentious question would be to suggest an architectural treatment for this part of the Castle today.
Love the lego colours – one of my favourite corners of Dublin.
mad I didn’t get that but I was thinking the passageway from he main square in Collins Barracke to the calvary school building.
Graham H: good puzzle, even I should have got that (isn’t hindsight wonderful?). Yes, I hate the kindergarten kolours, but what would you do? I think the green and grey/blue work reasonably well, but the red and yellow are vomitose; if these buildings were faced (in what and how?), the green and blue could remain as a contrast and look quite decent. Would a render with window opes defined in stone do? Or some kind of minimalist granite or limestone cladding?
It’s a nice dilemma, along with what to do with the Revenue site when that miscegenation is eventually demolished.My first guess was the old fruit market in D8, but the style of the date suggested the Iveagh. Then I checked the Iveagh date and it’s 1901.
It’s not the northside fruit market, but could it be the old Richmond Hospital, now a courthouse? Though I think that’s yellower in appearance… There aren’t many buildings in Dublin within the canals (it is within the canals, I presume, as per the rules of the game?) that have lettering of that style.
Anyhoo, bike time. You’re right.
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