Sam Stephenson [Enfant Terrible!]
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OK – this might seem like an odd question to some people, but what ever happened to Mr Stephenson – Viking and Georgian Dublin’s no.1 fan…?
alive or dead? working or no?
I could do a little research – but it’s such a nice afternoon…
Did you ever hear of Ansbacher Caymen?!!!!!
Some people ought to keep a low profile….
Some architects are infamous for things other than buildings!!!!
Oh alive alive o by all accounts. He appears on radio from time to time (if thats not a contradiction in terms) He also featured on RTE’s only ever production/series to deal with architecture ‘Nation Building’.
He now regrets Fitzwilliam St, Wood Quay and the battle for Hume St, although still fiercly proud of the Central Bank, and rightly so, (location aside!)
I know someone who works for him. Does anyone have a rendering of that project? It’s some sort of pyramidal office building I believe.
I think Central Bank is perfect where it is. Stephenson’s work was (I’ll have to use past tense) so confrontational – and bang there it is. Wood Qy is overkill though.
I guess the guy and his commissions faded with Charlie, huh?
Here is some descriptions Andrew
http://www.ireland.com/property/top/2002/0704/top5.htmhttp://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=51&si=775619&issue_id=7606
“I guess the guy and his commissions faded with Charlie, huh?”
Funny that eh!?
I read the aplnning notive ages ago for the development on Burgh Quay somewhere. I think its 6 stories in total with 4 stories facing the street and the top two penthouse (nice view!) floors set back gradually. Which should mean it looks completely in keeping with the other balls-ups on B Q behind the old Corn Exchange.
I worked in Stephenson Associates in the late 70s early 80s. It was the most unique design office in Ireland at the time and it has not been equalled since. There we were in a unique building, the old convertred Molyneux Church (Molyneux House) along Bride St, the only inner city design office in Dublin at the time. We were all young excited graduates in architecture, structural eng, building services eng, civil and the QS boys. Sam broke the mould by doing the whole package and broke the ultra conservative set up between separate architectural and consultant engineers. I must say the site meetings were pretty civilised affairs with the usual warfare kept for the office. We were the Celtic cubs of the time, working all hours and only stopping to go to the first Mc Donalds on Grafton St. or party in White Horse, the old Underground bar or Nicoe’s of Dame St. and we had the best Christmas parties in town thanks to Sam.
As a young engineer I have to say I worked with the finest of young architects on some great projects- Fieldcrest in Kilkenny (the biggest project in Ireland at the time). Those two years on site in Kilkenny were the most exciting time of my career. All young engineers and architects with big responsibility and all doing a great job and having great craic in Kilkenny after work. Coming home each weekend like a sailor from sea and my Cavan parents who worked so hard to get me through college “waiting and wanting to hear all the news†and them so proud of their son who works for the architect Sam Stephenson !!
Also Bord Na Mona head office (now Esat Digifone) on Baggot St and all the Westinghouse plants from Shannon to Dundalk, Great times, great projects, great experience, great responsibility and great friends we were the original band of brothers wearing our distinguishing flashy silver coloured safety hats !! and we were in awe of Sam and had a great loyalty to each other and Stephenson Associates. I have to thank my tenure in Stephenson Associates for instilling in me great confidence and an awareness of my built environment and introducing an inner city Dublin kid into a social and professional scene that I would never have experienced otherwise.
So thank you Sam for thrusting youth and I only wish every young architect and engineer could experience the so special feeling of working for Stephenson Associates.
Great comments Simon. I guess it’s easy for all of us on the outside to make the obvious snide remarks.
What a great time to be working there!
His central bank has got to be the most successful structutre that has been erected in town over the last 30 years.
I know a lot of people don’t like it’s location, but it’s there now and it’s stunning.
It looks like it was put up yesterday, it just won’t age, unlike a lot of the work from the same period.Top quality work Sam.
True the Central Bank is top-notch – its a pity about his other work though which is disasterous.
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