A Dublin district resurected
St. Patrick's Day seems an appropriate time to get back to my series on Ireland. Having looked at Dublin, both at large and in particular, this time I will focus on a particular district: Temple Bar.
Temple Bar was the pioneering effort of contemporary urban regeneration in Dublin in the early 1990's. An architectural competition to create a framework plan for the district was won by a unique group of young architects who collaborated as Group 91:
- Shay Cleary Architects
- Grafton Architects
- Paul Keogh Architects
- McCullough Mulvin Architects
- McGarry NiEanaigh Architects
- O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects
- Shane O'Toole Architects
- Derek Tynan Architects
Link: The Reflecting City - Temple Bar
Link: Temple Bar
Reference: Seeing Éire [prologue] (L+L)
Reference: Seeing Éire [I] - Ailtireacht na Baile Átha Cliath (L+L)
ABOVE: drawings from the Temple Bar Framework Plan by Group 91.
STREET IN TEMPLE BAR
Temple Bar Square, Grafton Architects
One of three new public spaces in Temple Bar Area, the square took the place of a car park and features a new building defining its south edge. The Temple Bar Book Market is held here on Saturdays and Sundays.
Meeting House Square, O'Donnell + Tuomey with Group 91
A more contained space than Temple Bar Square, Meeting House Square is an outdoor room bound by The Ark (at right, by Shane O'Toole), and the National Photographic Archive and School of Photography (top, by O'Donnell + Tuomey). The square features a stage and projection room to facilitate film screenings, performances and concerts. The Temple Bar Food Market is held here every Saturday.
Gallery of Photography, O’Donnell + Tuomey / Group 91
Forms the south edge of Meeting House Square
Curved Street, McCullough Mulvin Architects and Shay Cleary Architects
Left: Temple Bar Music Centre, McCullough Mulvin
Right: Arthouse Multimedia Centre, Shay Cleary
Cow's Lane is a pedestrian street forming the public spine of the "Old City" in the west end of Temple Bar. A fashion and design market is held every Saturday.
Left: Project Arts Centre, Shay Cleary Architects
Right: Temple Bar Gallery and Studios, McCullough Mulvin Architects
Irish Film Centre, O'Donnell + Tuomey Architects
Scarlet Row, McGarry Ní Eánaigh Architects
Left: (formerly) The Viking Centre, Gilroy McMahon Architects
Right: Wooden Building, residential tower, De Blacam & Meagher
Wooden Building, residential tower, De Blacam & Meagher
Temple Bar has succeeded in breathing life and vitality into a previously derelict district, and it has done so with bold architecture that has redefined urban Dublin while remaining true to its past. While some spaces and structures work better than others, the strength lies in the organic fabric of the whole.
special thanks