8 Inspiring Instances of Contemporary Irish Architecture
Architects love going green, but today itâs not a byword for our preoccupations with eco-friendly innovation as it is a color-coded holiday. Celebrated around the world on March 17th, St. Patrickâs Day is the perfect opportunity to recognize Irish culture (and have a cheeky pint of Guinness or three).
St. Patrickâs Day originates in ancient times, being the date traditionally acknowledged as coinciding with the death of Ireland's patron saint around AD 493. However, the day is now as much of a celebration of contemporary culture across this fair isle, and architecture represents an important component of the countryâs recent drive to embrace modernity.
This includes a number of cracking new projects in the residential, commercial ,and civic typologies, displaying a surprising degree of diversity and daring by architecture firms across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Hereâs our pick of the bunch: enjoy, and may all the luck of the four-leafed clover be with you on this festive Tuesday!
Titanic Belfast by Todd Architects
One of the foremost architectural landmarks of the 21st century in Northern Ireland sits on the harbor front in the center of Belfast. The 14,000-square-meter building is the largest museum of its kind devoted to the infamous ocean liner Titanic, and is formed by four soaring, aluminum-clad shards inspired by the hulls of boats constructed in this very dockyard a century ago.
Formwork Studio in Dublin by Architecture Republic
On a smaller scale, Architecture Republic conceived this artistâs retreat as a simple textured cube, with workbenches, steps, and seating formed by a continuous ribbon of concrete around the room. The minimalist style and lighting creates a serene, calming atmosphere, reminiscent of many works by the king of concrete himself, Tadao Ando.
VISUAL & the George Bernard Shaw Theatre in Dublin by Terry Pawson Architects
This âŹ18-million building forms a multifunctional space for the arts in the Republic of Irelandâs capital city, combining VISUAL â a high-ceilinged exhibition space for displaying contemporary art â and a large theatre venue. The building reads as a series of volumes clad with opaque glass and presented on a raised concrete plinth, providing ample day lighting for the galleries in the daytime, and forming a contemporary lantern by night.
Dwelling at Maytree in Wicklow by ODOS
This sleek modernist structure looks more like a contemporary gallery than a private residence, with sculptural elements containing open plan living spaces beneath a steep, tree-covered escarpment. In the midst of the snow-white walls and cool gray window frames, flashes of lime enliven the buildingâs appearance, and a bold cantilever is supported by a quirky cluster of bright red columns.
The Plastic House in Dublin by Architecture Republic
Architecture Republic return to our list with this startling residential renovation, which saw a typical mid-terrace house transformed into a futuristic minimalist environment. The interior has been left entirely open with double-height spaces and gantries throughout (only the bathroom is enclosed), and its pure palette of black and white gives it the feel of a three-dimensional Mondrian painting.
Trinity Long Room Hub in Dublin by McCullough Mulvin Architects
Designed as the new Humanities Research Building in Trinity College, the Long Room Hub is intended to form a modern yet contextually respectful intervention alongside the Collegeâs Neoclassical buildings. The buildingâs façades are comprised of stone and glass to echo the material palette of the surrounding architecture, but the structureâs simplified aesthetic offers a striking contrast within this historic square.
3 Mews Houses in Dublin by ODOS
The raw aesthetic of these private residences in Dublinâs city center nods to the areaâs industrial heritage. The cantilevered upper section is comprised of power coated metal industrial floor planks, arranged in varying widths to create a dynamic rhythm along the mews frontage. Behind this metal veil, open plan living spaces are punctuated with plant-filled rooftop terraces.