| Architect |
J. R. Boyd
Barrett |
| Date
Built |
1939 |
| Location |
Kildare
Street, Dublin |
| Description |
|
| This building
was the result of a design competition in
1935 for a building on Kildare Street to
accommodate various government employees
previously working in offices scattered
across the city. J. R. Boyd Barrett's
design won the competition and he delivered
this elegant building that the archiseek.com
website describes as, " ... basically a stripped
classical facade with an Art Deco entrance
bay addition. ... The exterior is robust
and austere with the exception of the art
deco relief sculptures by Gabriel Hayes." The exterior decoration includes: a
carved keystone representing Éire ...
 a carved lintel depicting the celtic god Lugh releasing aeroplanes into the air ....  and a relief carving showing stylised images of industry and commerce on the Minister's balcony.  The archiseek.com website says that, "The main emphasis of the facade is the entrance bay. This is placed at the Schoolhouse Lane corner of the building. A tall round headed window passes up through the floors with .... jazzy interstitial panels."  The
website adds that, "The interior of the building
remains as largely designed by Barrett
– as a total piece of design.
Everything from the ashtrays,
fireplaces and door handles up was
designed specifically for this
building and all constructed during a
period of war and material shortages.
The interior with its polished woods
and metals, stylised signage,
patterned linoleum floors. The foyer
for each floor was designed similarly
with black and yellow art deco floor
designs with symbols depicting each
floor level in the center, deeply
coffered ceilings and semi-circular
information desks."
|
|
|
Department
of Industry and Commerce, Kildare Street, Dublin
 |
