1934 – Phibsborough Public Library, Dublin
On the North Circular Road, Phibsborough Library is one of four small branch libraries designed by Scottish architect Robert S. Lawrie. Lawrie was working for the City Architect department at the time. This, the earliest, is more conservative in design, the others being more overtly modern with strip windows and art deco inspired doorways.
With its concrete cornice and classical entrance, the building clearly draws on interwar classicism from the UK. The entrance has dressed stone voussoirs and keystone with a limestone entablature with fantastic lettering above the door. The original pivoting windows have decorative herringbone brick panels beneath on the main façade. Sadly, the building has a crude, although necessary, access ramp added to the main front.
Share!
Cite This Article
Published July 9, 2025
