Ahead of this year’s Open House Dublin (OHD) we’ve teamed up with our pals the Irish Architecture Foundation. who have invited some of Dublin’s creative souls to select their top five buildings or events using the ‘my list’ option on the Open House website.
To date we’ve seen selections from Emma Clarke of Dublin Ghost Signs, Oisín Jacob of alt-rock band Heroes in Hiding, illustrator and muralist and signpainter Holly Pereira furniture designer and maker Simon Doyle, Concrete Collar and Architect and Artist Rae Moore. Next up, reviewer and blogger Louise Bruton presents her five highlights from the Open House Dublin 2018 programme.
As a wheelchair user, building regulations and access are my Mastermind subject. I regularly write about disability rights in the Irish Times and I examine access facilities in public and private spaces over on Legless In Dublin. Curiosity often gets the better of me; I want to know how things work but I also like to see how wealthy people spend their money. My picks fall on the Venn diagram of where wheelchair access, wealth and curiosity meet.
Both Foxrock Avenue, a 1970s semi-detached house, and Haddington Park, a 1940s bungalow, offer the same thing; an example of a renovation that marries contemporary design with interesting access features.
I hope to find some inspiration here for whenever the opportunity arises (i.e. winning the Lotto) to fully upgrade my own home to suits my own needs in a stylish way.
Sealawn Lodge & St. Anne’s Park Follies
Behind every folly is a great story and the many follies in St. Anne’s Park were built under the instruction of the Guinness family so you know that the story here will be wonderfully outlandish.
Having spent a lot of time in old, convent-run hospitals, visiting this newly built medical research hotspot will be a nice way to gauge how big money medicine works, ticking off wheelchair access, wealth and curiosity perfectly.
Main Lift Pumping Station and Lord Mayor’s Coach
In the quest for learning how things work, the Pumping Station near Pigeon House is a straight up education in Dublin’s sewerage system. It’s a real behind-the-scenes look at the unsung hero of our city. Plus, you have to wear a hi-vis vest onsite, which is pretty exciting.
Words: Louise Bruton
Legless In Dublin is a guide to navigating Dublin (and other places), whether you use a wheelchair or not. The reviews are for everyone but the access details are there for those who need them. Where most websites simply say yes or no to wheelchair access, Legless In Dublin goes into detail. Bars, clubs, restaurants, music festivals, cafes and whatever else are all reviewed in terms of access, atmosphere and craic.
Open House Dublin Weekend takes place 12 – 14 October 2018. For full details check out openhousedublin.com The weekend is organised by Irish Architecture Foundation.
