Kildare Civic Offices
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Where in Naas is this?
Not sure if this link will work…. It is on the site of the former Devoy Barracks… if you’re coming from dublin.. turn right at the junction off the main st in Naas just at the other end of the town.. before the junction for the hospital…. it’s on your left.
http://www.roskavanagh.com/php/user_system.php?action=search_results&start_at=0&2=&job_id=764
when did you take those photos shadow? because I was at the aai site visit about a month ago and it looked more finished than in those photos you posted.
It’s right next door to the Osprey hotel – follow this link to the map to get to the hotel http://www.osprey.ie/hotel/map.htm
I stand corrected actually I didn’t look close enough the first photo is at the back and the second photo shows the glass screen with green triangles screenprinted /solar screen devive is completely up on the building on the left which was only stated at the rear when I was there. I wonder whats the predicted time scale of the rest of the build( I’m sure it was said at the site visit but my memory being as goog as it is and all)?
“The new civic offices in Naas for Kildare County Council have been officially opened.”
has anyone any photos of this finished? ive only seen renders of it i believe this is their first built building?
i’ve driven by it at night when the whole thing was lit up and it looks great. i’ll take a couple of shots next time i pass it.
New era of transparency at Kildare civic offices
Ruadhán Mac Eoin, The Irish Times, Fri 13th Jan 2005.
The new civic offices in Naas for Kildare County Council have been officially opened.
The building was designed by Dublin-based Heneghan Peng architects, who have come to international prominence for other designs, including the Grand Museum of Egypt in Cairo and the new Giant’s Causeway visitor centre.
At a cost of €58 million, the scheme is built on part of the former site of Devoy Barracks and occupies nearly three hectares (seven acres). It will accommodate 450 staff.
A €500,000 grant allowed for such features as solar panels on the roof for heating water and an internal water recycling scheme.Intelligent design basics include maximising natural light to illuminate the interior and using natural ventilation so that air conditioning is not required.
The car park features porous paving which means that no drains are required.
After 2½ years of construction, council staff can now vacate the old fever hospital.
The new building has distinguishing features both in visual aspect and function.
Stating that the “design approach is unique”, the council has opted for two parallel four-storey, rectangular glass and steel blocks with tilting walls. The intention is to play on continuing the topography of the surrounding landscape.
The theme of extending the outside into the interior is also reflected in the transparent green screens that cover the buildings – part of what the architects describe as “continuity between public garden and public enclosed space”.
This reflects the architects’ intention that the design be a metaphor of how local democracy should have transparency as a key component and that “openness to all the people of Kildare was fundamental to the building’s concept”.
The aspect of accessibility is continued throughout the building as both able-bodied people and disabled experience the building similarly.
This is facilitated by the use of gently sloping ramps, rather than stairs, which “float” in an atrium that links the two parallel blocks.
The project hopes to set a new template for sustainable and environmentally sound corporate architecture in Ireland, and it has been awarded the highest grant to date given to one project by Sustainable Energy Ireland.
Adjacent to the exterior of the offices is an amphitheatre set against the Georgian clock tower building, a remnant of the former barracks. It is intended that concerts and performances will be held here in summer.
“Ãras Chill Dara was awarded in the RIBA European Awards 2006, and was described as a project “developed with singular confidence and brio.”” Didn’t visit the building then?
What’s it like? Looks nice in the images I have seen of it, but how is it in real life?
Phil, it’s up there with the top five buildings in Ireland since Busaras, it’s that attractive.I’d go to Naas just to view it every week if I could.By the way, Naas is a fine example of a well preserved Irish provincial town, it’s got some great shop-fronts and buildings, full credit to Naas civic people for a wonderful town. I hadn’t passed through it since the 80’s.
I’ve been out to the Naas office a few times in recent weeks. It’s a marmite of a building, but I think it looks well.
As for Naas being a well preserved town. An board pleanla just granted a shopping centre for main street, but keeping original facades. Alot of work like that in Naas over the years.
Your’re right but then it is neither in the top 5 since Bus Aras. It woulod be better to form a crtique of the work itself than place it in a ranking scheme. Marmite is an interesting description, but if you were to follow the analogy christmas pudding would be more appropriate. Lots of different ingredients boiled to form a glutinous mass without any single unifying theme.
some pics… http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/kildare/naas/araskildara.html
it’s a stunning building. i’m waiting for an excuse to go in there during working hours.
We’re not calling it shite so that automatically places it high on any list since Busaras.
Seriously though, I wouldn’t even want to critically analyse this thing right now. Like any art, first impressions are what makes it, you walk past it or you don’t, you will turn your head to look or you won’t.
I enjoyed looking at it, it’s a joy to behold, the whole concept, and it’s flawed, but I like my favourite architecture flawed.
@sw101 wrote:
some pics… http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/kildare/naas/araskildara.html
it’s a stunning building. i’m waiting for an excuse to go in there during working hours.
I was sent out to Aras Cil Dara last tuesday, handy errand seeing as this thread popped back up
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