Who should win the RIAI Gold Medal?

Looks like the de Blacam & Meagher office have all paid a visit to the site since this morning. Don’t recall the Wooden One having quite that many votes earlier today.
At least they didn’t go for that muck on Castle Street. 😮

have to say i think Tulach a’ tSolais looks very impressive, although i haven’t seen it in person either … surprised to hear it came out of STW to be honest … link below

Tulach a’tSolais

http://www.stw.ie/Projects/Project.asp?id=126

Castle Street is a reuse project in the same way the Wax Museum was a reuse project. You wouldn’t even know the Garden of Delight had been there. Also, I know someone who works in it and she’s not impressed (and I’m not even talking about the ‘Dublin’ ‘Cool’ windows 😮 ).
The interesting but sad thing is that it has been admired sufficiently to be cited as an example of good design- check out the ‘adapted’ corner feature on the building going up on the corner of Henrietta Street and Bolton Street- three dangling square lamps and all.

I have to say, I think the Ranelagh school is a very fine piece of work- sits well in context, sensitive to its near and far surroundings, well-appointed accommodation (I know one child who goes there and loves it). One of the few 1990s buildings that I think won’t date badly in this country.
Haven’t been to the Fingal offices, but I hear they’re super to work in, and they sure look classy from the bus.

I’m guessing it’s between these two (though the Niland looks fascinating from Paul’s photo- is it the photo or is it a great building?).

I can’t understand how the usher library isn’t in the running and I have to say Ias much as I like castle st I don’t think its of great enough a scale to merit the gold medal saying that I do like the wooden window and the steping up of the facade and just because others have since tried to copy it and done a bad job deffinitly doesn’t make the original less good. also I think I remember the reason for the use of the brick being that it was the planners even though there were no brick buildings on that street at the time?! and the copper brick wood does have both kahnian and aalto references which couls be made.but thats hardle surprising from deb+m

Hasn’t it been on sale for some time now? Perhaps a little overpriced?

Agreed, fergus, that no building can be held responsible for the adaptation and corruption of its features by lesser buildings, but I still think the building’s pretty poor. In writing, it seems to push all the right buttons- materials, respect for different scales and all that. But in the flesh I just think it looks lumpy and clumsy and, though the Castle Street front isn’t too bad, the whole doesn’t hang together well. Interesting that the brick was at the request of the planners- one of its redeeming features, I’d say. Yay for planners. 🙂
I’d give my right arm for the roof garden, though.

Agreed also about the Ussher- I’d completely forgotten it was eligible. I use it occasionally, and it’s a joy to work in, as well as cleverly unifying the libraries with the lower ground floor lobby. A friend described it as like a wine bar with all the dark wood desks and mood lighting, and I think he has a point. Could do with better table service, though.

td- I direct you to fergus’s post above for the origin of the planners/bricks comment. I direct you further to the smilie attached to my ‘yay for planners’ comment.
Also, anyone who’s ever been in hospital will tell you that it’s the nurses that really know the score. 😉 In fact, maybe you’re right, in that the doctors swan into the ward/room doling out instructions in a high-handed manner which the nurses must then translate into practical actions…

Though I’d like to point out for the avoidance of doubt that I fundamentally disagree with your analogy. For the record, I was just being light-hearted in the paragraph above.

Were you involved in the design of 1 Castle Street, perhaps?