The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies Trinity ... · The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies Trinity College Dublin “The Gas Building” 24 D’Olier Street DUBLIN 2

The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies

Trinity College Dublin

“The Gas Building”24 D’Olier Street

DUBLIN 2

A Short Visual Enlightenment

Art Deco at “The Gas Building”

Fáilte Welcome

Bienvenue Willkommen

Recepción Benvenuto

Bine Ati Venit

Добро пожаловать

Notable Dates in the History of “The Gas Building”

1818-1882

In 1818 Dublin Library Society acquires a site on D’Olier Street from the Wide Streets Commissioners.

The architect of the Library building on D’Olier Street is George Papworth, a notable watercolourist and draughtsman who exhibited at the Royal Academy on several occasions. Early but unexecuted works included designs for the General Post Office and the Wellington Monument. The Dublin Library Society’s Library is George’s first significant public building and its success is likely to have led to a marked increase in the commission being received by him. The cost of the completion of the Library is £5,600.

1882-1884 For a period of two years the building is the home of the D’Olier Street Club.

1884 The building is acquired by the Alliance and Dublin Consumers Gas Company at a cost of £5000. The Gas Company remains in occupation of the building up until its sale to Trinity College in 2001.


The Architects John Joseph Robinson and Richard Cyril Keefe

(the original partners of the architectural practice of Robinson Keefe Devane).

The Gas Company began expanding its site at D’Olier Street within a short time of acquiring the former Library.

The sites on the north side of Leinster Market appeared to have been acquired at some time between this date and 1929 although Thoms (Irish Street Directory) does not provide a clear date for the acquisition of these buildings.

Designs for this expansion were prepared by John Joseph Robinson and Richard Cyril Keefe (the original partners of the architectural practice of Robinson Keefe Devane). The firm of Robinson Keefe became one of the most prolific practices in Ireland.. Robinson and Keefe worked successfully in a wide variety of styles to include the Romanesque, Stripped Classical, Art Deco, International Modern Movement as well as more traditional historic styles.


1905

The first phase of Robinson Keefe’s work appears to have been the construction of a new block on Hawkins Street adjoining a plain red brick block built by the Gas Company in 1905 . This new block spanned the opening to Leinster Market and was designed in the Neo-Tudor or Early English style. The use of such a historic style for buildings at this time did result in some less than complimentary comments in the architectural journals.


1931-34 The building is remodelled to the designs of Robinsons and O’Keefe in the Art Deco style.

1933 A slightly later phase of the development of the entire site was the remodelling of the D’Olier Street block, which from dated drawings appears to have begun as late as 1933.

As part of this remodelling, Robinson and Keefe refaced the exterior of the building in polished black marble and polished granite.

Inside, the Art Deco foyer is one of the finest interiors of its kind in Ireland. The combination of the terrazzo floor, richly veneered panelling and crystal chandeliers combine to augment an interior of considerable grandeur.

A sympathetic restoration –

Rediscovering former splendours











Do you want your ould’ lobby washed down ?



Elbow grease and bees’ wax













The suspended tiled ceiling was removed to reveal a wrought iron skylight

Movie shoots??? Cinematic delights



Architects

Project Managers

Accountants

Tradesmen



…..they would drive you around theBut……..



What a splendid job!To all those responsible for restoring the former splendours of

“The Gas Building”

Fin

Documents

The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies Trinity ... · The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies Trinity College Dublin “The Gas Building” 24 D’Olier Street DUBLIN 2