[Image credit: Heneghan Peng Architects]
A few years back, around St. Patrick’s Day, the BUILD Blog profiled a handful of modern Irish architects. Though it’s not a tradition we adhere to each year, we thought it timely to refresh the list through the work of our international field correspondent, Brendan Redmond. An architect based in Dublin, Redmond is keeping a pulse on the modern architecture world in his home country and beyond. We’re honored to have him contribute his knowledge on the blog, and we hope you enjoy some gorgeous Irish design eye candy.
Since 2008, Irish architects, hammered by a crippling recession and the implosion of a property bubble, have endured a precipitous fall in activity. While exceedingly difficult, this lull in the frenetic activity of the previous decade has given Irish architects an opportunity to pause and reflect and to develop their work in a patient, intelligent way, at once international and retaining an awareness of landscape, context, craft and tradition.
Firms leading the way with international success:
Grafton Architects Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co. Meath 2007
Heneghan Peng Giant’s Causeway Visitors’ Centre, Antrium, Northern Ireland 2005
O’Donnell & Tuomey (Strand House, Rosslare Strand 2008) who’s work at home and abroad has led to competition success and critical acclaim.
Twenty years after his untimely death, a new film, exhibition, and book celebrate the life and work of Peter Rice — one of Ireland’s, and the 20th Century’s, greatest engineers.
A major Eileen Gray exhibition, hosted by the Centre Pompidou (one of Rice’s greatest works) and running until May 20th, reaffirms Gray’s place as one of Modernism’s most important female architects.
Irish architects based abroad, such as Niall McLaughlin (Bishop Edward King Chapel, Oxford 2009) and Lorcan O’Herlihy (FINEMAN Residence, Brentwood, California 2004) continue to produce innovative work, grounded in many of the traditions espoused by Irish architects.
The following group of architects continue to produce thoughtful, tactile architecture, deeply concerned with contextual, tectonic, historical, and cultural issues.
McCullough Mulvin Lincoln Place, Dublin 2009
De Blacham and Meaghar Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2001
Henchion Reuter Sports and Youth Services Centre, Cabra, Dublin 2004
Boyd Cody Private Residence, Summerhill Co., Meath 2010
Tom de Paor National Sculpture Factory, Cork 2000
Bucholz McEvoy Limerick County Council, Dublin 2003
Practices which established during the boom years are consolidating a reputation for innovation and skill include:
Donaghy Dimond Flitch House, Dublin 2011
Odos Architects Private Residence 2005
A2 13 Lad Lane, Dublin 2005
CAST Reworking, Sandymount, Dublin 2009
A new generation of Irish architects are making their way in the uncertain climes of the current economy. Their work is shaped by an entirely different economic and social context to their recent predecessors.
Steve Larkin Architects
Clancy Moore Studios Albert Park, Dublin 2008
Architecture 53 seven Egans Juice Bar & Roof Terrace, Laois 2007
TAKA 4 House, Monalea Grove, Firhouse, Dublin 2011
That list should keep us all pleasantly distracted for a while. If you’ve got any adds, share ’em in the comments below. Huge thanks to Brendan for his legwork on this post. To keep up with Brendan and his Irish Modernism musings, follow him on Twitter @brendanredmond and Tumblr.
Sláinte from Team BUILD