ILAC Library for Ambassador Theatre?

Nice idea, we need a prominent, prestigeous, city library, but the ambassador, much too small surely?

This would tie in with the planned Irish Writers Museum and other cultural uses planned for Parnell Square but wouldn’t be the liveliest use for the theatre. The Parnell Square development plan envisaged the theatre becoming a cabaret space – though in practice that could have been pretty tacky too.

Here’s a feasibility study for where not to house a library: inside a shopping center. It’s symbolically troubling that for years a supposed hub of public literacy has been trapped inside a maze of shops and kiosks, its entrance totally obscured from the street. The fact that ‘ILAC library’ has become acceptable shorthand for Dublin’s Central Public Library implies a resignation about the decision, as if we could expect nothing better than to go hunting for our out-of-print books on out-of-date computers in a fast-paced, intellectually numbing swirl of commerce. Architecturally it made no sense and on the most practical level, it required a complete cognitive leap of faith for the outsider to go searching for a major city’s main library entrance inside – not next to – a shopping center.

It would be great to see the Central Library relocated to Ambassador for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that libraries deserve to be housed in an architecture that is impressive, highly visible, and respectful. Not upstairs from Dunnes Stores with packets of Pickled Onion Meanies crumpled beneath the stairwell. You should be invited into a library, not scared away from it or forced to go hunting for it. A more visible and prominent location could only help, and as previously pointed out, the tie-in with the proposed expanded Writers Museum would make sense.

If limited space becomes an issue, then why not go all the way and house the library inside the as-yet-unbuilt Libeskind theatre? It would be a better use of space, plus more people could enjoy the quirky Martha Schwartz plaza during the day. I’m all for a theatre here and there, but a decent library is certainly a more universally appealing amenity.

I would tend to agree – a new purpose built library, maintain the GPO as a functioning Post office and put the 1916 museum into the ambassador

Ambassador library plan gets the go-ahead (RTE News)
Monday, 3 September 2007 20:42

A proposal to move Dublin’s central library into the Ambassador cinema building on Parnell St has been given the go-ahead by city councillors.

The city council will become sub-tenants paying €1.2m annually in rent and €11.8m for fitout and tax costs if the scheme receives planning approval.

Some councillors complained there had been a lack of information about the project but City Manager, John Tierney, said negotiations were complicated and essentially involved a public-private partnership.

AdvertisementThe Millennium Theatre Company is the current leaseholder of the Ambassador building, which was built as a theatre in the 18th century and is owned by the Rotunda Hospital.

Reasonably happy about this, perhaps not the best outcome, but far from the worst.

Decent prominent location, will finally lift the Ambassador out of obscurity & establish its future. 11.8m to refurbish the existing structure would be some fit out ? perhaps some sort of extension on the way, as others have mentioned, space looks to be an issue.

This is great news. I think it’s a perfect location for the Central Library (presuming it’s big enough), right in the heart of the soon-to-be invigorated Parnell Square, and puts this important iconic building to public use. And round buildings are synonymous with libraries :). The only downside is the eschewing of the chance for a striking public new-build in the city, but the restoration is at least a decent trade-off. I don’t think €12m is excessive – this needs to be a seriously decent fitout for the 21st century.

I wonder though if the €12m covers the cost of external restoration and conservation – which is desperately needed – or will MCD cover the costs of that seperately? (assuming they still own it). There is so much potential in terms of cleaning, reinstatements, landscaping, innovative signage, and creative floodlighting. In particular I’d like to see the great upturned saucer roof illuminated from the base, next to a strikingly lit Parnell Monument.

Finally this curious complex of buildings will receive some long-term commitment; it’s been rightly fecked over by commerical operators over the years, and acts as a dead weight at the top of the street during daylight hours. And what a draw the Library will be for Upper O’Connell Street too – this just ticks all the right boxes. Lets face it, nothing short of a major, popular public institution is going to draw people northwards to the extent that’s needed: the Central Library should do just that.

Not sure notjim, but I think it’s still there along with other grand Georgian rooms that aren’t open to the public, the Gate auditorium aside. Indeed it would be fantastic if these could somehow be incorporated into the scheme, should the Gate be willing to get in on the act.

Indeed I think much of the grand Ambassador auditorium interior also survives in some shape or form – again so much exciting potential for the layer-stripper-backers.

@notjim wrote:

On a similar note, when the rotunda was built it had the pleasure gardens, the gate, the ambassador and something called the pillar room? What is that used for now?

The Pillar Room is under the theatre. I think it’s mostly used for private dining occasions now, though I know the Rotunda used to use it for some lectures or conferences.

To have a grand plaza area around the Parnell Monument and Library entrance directly linking into the quieter, greener landscaped grounds of the Rotunda would be fantastic.

Parnell Square Framework Plan

In the long term it is also proposed to open the main entrance door of the hospital directly to the public, and indeed the majority of the central 1750’s building, including the Chapel. What a transformation it would yield, especially coupled with adjacent street works which are set to get underway in the short-medium term in a style similar to O’Connell Street.

Though notorious for artistic licence, the scene presented to us today is a lot different to that of Malton’s view back in 1795. Indeed it’s simply not possible to stand that far back across the road – maybe it was in the late 18th century…

Here’s the Rotunda/Ambassador from the same date – it gives us some idea of the appearance of John Ensor’s original round room, though already modified with Gandon’s famous Coade stone decoration here.

The beautifully proportioned pavilion-like entrance to the front was also added by Gandon, seen here c. 1870.

And survived unaltered right up until the 1950s, along with original railings and lamp standards…

© RTÉ

…until it was sadly modified shortly after this picture was taken, in tandem with the cinema refurbishment. The swags to either side survive behind the sign, but the trademark Gandon arch was filled in flush 🙁

Interestingly, it seems the original columns were pragmatically – and badly – recycled in the new scheme. The original rusticated blocks were also roughly reconfigured, minus the niches. Given much of this needs to be dismantled and properly rebuilt, perhaps the original Gandon entrance should be reinstated, thus restoring the building’s pavilion-like quality, as below with the east elevation.

Some of the Coade stone dressings are also in serious need of conservation work. Most of it just needs a good clean.