Head way out west for tours of the National War Memorial Gardens, Phoenix Park, Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing and Clancy Quay Apartments during Open House Dublin!
IRISH NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL ISLANDBRIDGE
Discover one of Dublin’s most beautiful gardens. Designed by Edwin Lutyens in 1930 and constructed under the supervision of the OPW, the story of the Irish National War Memorial Gardens reflects the turbulent history of the early years of the Irish State. Visit on Saturday 14 October from 11.00am – 4.00pm.
PONDS & GATES OF THE PHOENIX PARK BICYCLE TOUR
Take a cycling tour on Saturday 14 October at 2.30pm and Sunday 15 October at 11.00am to learn the history of Phoenix Park, its unique gate lodges, ponds and hidden architectural treasures.
MERCER’S INSTITUTE FOR SUCCESSFUL AGEING
Mercer’s Institute for Successful Ageing (MISA) is an innovative healthcare model for care of the elderly, combining prevention and clinical care, research and teaching in one location. Constructed over seven storeys the building occupies an extremely compact site within St James’s Hospital which necessitated cantilevering the upper floors to facilitate fire-tender access to the periphery of the complex. Future redevelopment of this area will realise the urban intention for MISA and open it up to the adjacent linear park on St James’s Walk through a shared plaza. The seven storey In-patient block is arranged north- south ensuring sunlight penetration into rooms whilst engaging with the adjoining linear park. Day Areas have balconies with south facing views over the city. The template is enlarged on the southern side reflecting the geometry of the site and facilitating larger intensive care wards. The ground and first floor waiting and ambulatory clinics are animated by a landscaped courtyard. The workshop and exhibition spaces of the Creative Life Centre occupy a pivotal position adjacent to this courtyard reflecting their central role in the promotion of health and wellbeing in the MISA model. Open on Sunday 15 October from 12.00pm – 5.00pm.
CLANCY QUAY APARTMENTS
The Clancy Quay Apartments, open on Saturday 14 October from 11.00am – 5.00pm, are formed from ten protected structures that were once the artillery stores, stables, soldiers’ quarters, officers’ mess, hospital and clothing stores of Clancy Barracks at Islandbridge dating from c. 1720 to 1902. These remaining buildings, located within the Clancy Quay development, have undergone an extensive yet sensitive refurbishment and conversion into new residential use. When completed, the development will offer a range of public open spaces including a main landscaped garden where once was Cambridge Square, the former parade ground of the Barracks.
Open House Dublin (OHD) invites Dublin’s citizens to explore their city as when buildings not usually accessible to the public and buildings of architectural merit open their doors over the weekend of October 13th – 15th
All architectural tours are provided by expert guides, with free admission. For full details check out openhousedublin.com The weekend is organised by Irish Architecture Foundation.
