Trinity’s Architecture Celebrated during Open House Dublin 2017
Posted on: 11 October 2017
Trinity College Dublin will open its doors to the public as part of Open House Dublin 2017, on the 13th – 15th October. Open House Dublin is a unique experience, presented by the Irish Architecture Foundation, featuring over 100 free tours, events and workshops, inviting you to explore the rich architecture of Dublin.
A selection of Trinity's most famous and historic buildings will be open to all to come and visit over the weekend. These include the Provost's House, the Provost’s Stables and the Parson’s Building.
Please note that some tours require pre-booking, which can be done through the Open House Dublin website, however most tours will be run on a first-come, first-served basis on the day.
Details of Trinity buildings and tours are as follows:
Provost’s House: Friday 13 October
The Provost's house was built in 1759 for the purpose of providing a residence for the Provost of Trinity College Dublin and has continued to provide this function for over 250 years. The current Provost is the 24th Provost to reside in the house for his term of office. It has one of the most elaborately decorated interiors of its period and has many original features.
Places on this tour will be distributed using a lottery, which has now closed.
TRIARC (The Provost’s House Stables): Saturday 14 October
TRIARC (Trinity Irish Art Research Centre) was formally opened in 2008 to accommodate the Irish Art Research Centre. The purpose of the centre was to meet the needs of postgraduate students and researchers with a particular interest in Irish Art History. The restoration of the Provost's House Stables at Trinity College by architects O'Donnell & Tuomey has been done in a sensitive manner which developed a space for study and maintained the integrity of the older original building. References to the former use of the building as stables are made by the horse stalls in the study carrells which are currently used by postgraduate students. Apart from the layout of the space in the interior, the quality of light is one of the characteristics which defines the building at both ground floor and first floor level.
Places on this tour will be distributed using a lottery, which has now closed.
Parson’s Building: Saturday 14 October, 11.00am – 5.00pm, and Sunday 15 October, 12.00pm – 5.00pm
The 19th century Parsons Building has been home to Trinity's Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering since 1981, sitting elevated and at an angle to the grain of the campus. Grafton Architects' first addition to the building in 1996 addressed the campus, accommodating workshops, laboratories and offices between the new podium and the bold basalt-clad cube on top. The second extension spans to Lincoln Place, an elegant granite-clad form that achieves sophisticated negotiation of particularly challenging site conditions.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers.
The Berkeley Library: Friday 13 October and Saturday 14 October
Widely regarded as Ireland's finest modernist building, the iconic Berkeley Library celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. On Friday join us for an in depth conversation with the architect Paul Koralek, founding member of the renowned ABK Architects, and John Tuomey of O'Donnell + Tuomey to reflect on its history and impact. Pre-book your place on this tour here. This tour is not suitable for children, tickets for the Saturday tours are sold out.
The Douglas Hyde Gallery: Saturday 14 October, 11.00am – 5.00pm
The Douglas Hyde Gallery is a non-profit institution supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Trinity College Dublin. Housed in the university’s Arts Building, it was designed by Paul Koralek of ABK Architects and is ideally located at the meeting point between the city and the campus. The building contains two main exhibition spaces; the cavernous, double height Gallery 1, which is approached down a cantilevered staircase, and the more intimate Gallery 2, which was designed by McCullough Mulvin Architects, and opened in 2001.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers.
Performance Walking Tour of Trinity College Dublin: Saturday 14 October, 11.00am – 2.00pm
Discover Trinity College as a stage for our city’s colourful performers. Let characters from Trinity’s past and present take you on a theatrical guide to the city's historic campus bringing its architecture to life.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers. Tours start at 11:00am and 1:00pm. Suitable for ages 4+.
Junior Architect’s Workshop: Saturday 14 October, 10.00am – 4.00pm
All junior architects are welcome to Trinity College to be inspired by the campus’ historic buildings and to create their own models, and designs.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers. Suitable for all ages.
Architreks: Saturday 14 October, 10.00am – 4.00pm
Explore the rich architectural and historic fabric of Dublin. Designed for archi-lovers, Architrecks are colourful self-guided tours to be enjoyed by families of all ages at any time. With fun-filled, illustrated activities that bring you on a journey, you will begin to notice all the elements that make up the spaces we inhabit: materials, textures, colour, shapes and all in between.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers. Suitable for all ages.
Open House Dublin Info Hub: Saturday 14 October, 11.00am – 5.00pm, and Sunday 15 October, 12.00pm – 5.00pm
An Open House Dublin Info Hub will also be on campus. Stop by and pick up an Open House Dublin map and learn more about events and tours nearby.
First-come basis: Just turn up and look out for Open House Dublin volunteers.