GALLERY OF PHOTOGRAPHY ASSESSORS’COMMENTS Frampton – It’s the Temple Bar Mafia, isn’t it? Stephenson – Perhaps we should give an overall award to the Temple Bar area and get it out of our way, because it will be coming up for years. However, it is the most interesting thing that’s happened in Irish architecture for a hell of a long time. Hussey – I think this is a clever building. I think it adds to the richness of Meeting House Square. Even though the façade is somewhat graphic, it is the window which becomes a screen, the moveable walls, and the beautiful stonework which prove compelling. Hughes – I know this is a screen for the outdoor cinema projection, but why does the bottom of the building slope up? Is there any reason? If there was a ramp inside, that would be fine. Cross – It’s design, not function. Frampton – I think that despite the slanted underside, it’s a very interesting piece of architecture. I don’t know if it’s an accident, but there’s something impressive about the way its proportions work with the existing roof behind. Cross – Yes, very definitely. I think it’s a really beautiful façade. It’s so much simpler than a lot of the other ones. But it is like a two-dimensional building that is all about façade and not about space to show photographs. It’s a very narrow building. It’s almost like an excuse for a building. Frampton – I like the way you’re walking back along the façade, behind this screen, looking back down on the double-height space. It’s quite a clever space. And these doors can divide up the exhibition space, can’t they?

 

Cross – Yes, I would too actually. I’d go for it for its exterior simplicity. The trouble is on the functional level. Frampton – But you still haven’t quite convinced me what’s wrong with it. Cross – I just feel for the amount of effort that goes into the façade, it’s not that adequate inside. Hughes – I was the only one who wasn’t quite sure, to be honest. I was leaning towards the Dept of Mechanical Engineering, which dealt with a very complex brief, but I do see the simplicity of this building by comparison. Frampton – At first I thought that the National Photography Archive was better. It is incredibly mannered and extremely talented compositionally, but there’s something irritating in terms of all that fuss and bother for what it actually is. I think that the plans of the Gallery of Photography are so simple because the architects here had so little to work with – they have the entry here, this is the public reception, they have a staircase and they have a gallery, right? That’s it! I think it’s the best piece, I really do. I would support it for the Medal. assessors’ comments taken from John O’Regan (ed.), New Irish Architecture 12 – AAI Awards 1997 (Gandon Editions / AAI, 1997) ISBN 0946641 781

 

Stephenson – They can form separate rooms. Frampton – This building makes some statement between cinematography and photography, which is to its advantage. I think that the elevation and the way that staircase is detailed is pretty impressive. It’s turning corners out of planes in welded steel, and making space between the junction. I think it’s done with a lot of strength. Hussey – I think it has a great presence within the square. Even though it’s quite a modest building, it manages to turn the whole movement within the building through 90° to the visual axis, and in doing that, the building itself becomes a showcase. As opposed to having to enter the building, you can actually perceive the organisation and movement from outside. You would look at this building from ground level and be immediately aware of the exhibitions, part of this audience to the spectacle moving back and forth. Stephenson – In a way it is like a façade stuck on to another building. Cross – It’s very sculptural though. Formally, it’s a very beautiful façade, simple, simple. It’s one of the few unfussy buildings in Temple Bar. However, I don’t think the building functions very well because it’s incredibly small inside. It has all these walls that move, and things, but in fact you’re talking about a small space to show the photography. It’s amazing that the client didn’t wait for or demand a slightly bigger site. Stephenson – I could probably be persuaded on this for the Medal. Hussey – I would vote for this one by virtue of its powerful simplicity.