More than 70 residents came to discover the architectural gems around Clonskeagh. From Georgian homes to Art Deco and modern buildings, Robin Mandal revealed the stories behind places many of us pass every day.
More than 70 Clonskeagh residents packed into St Joseph’s Hall on Bird Avenue last night to hear about local architectural gems.
The attraction was an informative, illustrated talk on local architecture by Robin Mandal.
Robin is a leading Grade 1 conservation architect. He is also a past President of the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland and a fellow Clonskeagh resident.
A tour of Clonskeagh architecture
Robin took the audience on a tour of Clonskeagh.
His route began at Milltown Cross and continued along Clonskeagh Road to Roebuck Road. He then travelled to Bird Avenue and Dundrum Road.
The tour showed the wide range of architecture found in the area.
It included buildings from the Georgian, Victorian, Art Deco and modern periods.
The buildings included:
- Homes.
- Schools.
- A mosque.
- Two churches.
- Industrial buildings.
- Office blocks.
Some highlights from the talk
Robin said that his interest in local architecture grew when he moved to Vergemont Park about 30 years ago.
The area’s buildings opened his eyes to the range and quality of local architecture.
The growth of Clonskeagh
The growth of the Clonskeagh suburb was shown in a range of Ordnance Survey maps from 1837 onwards.
The former Clonskeagh Tram Station
The former Clonskeagh Tram Station is now occupied by Oroko Travel, Platinum Pilates and SureSkills.
Robin highlighted the building as a good combination of tasteful Victorian design and modern restoration.
Vergemount Court
Next to the former Tram Station is Vergemount Court.
Robin described this early modern apartment block as “well designed“.
Vergemount Hall gate lodge
Opposite the former Tram Station is the Victorian gate lodge of the former Vergemount Hall.
Vergemount Hall has since been demolished.
The site is now occupied by the former Clonskeagh Fever Hospital, “a classic 1930s’ design“.
Clonskeagh Castle Estate
The Clonskeagh Castle Estate was designed by Frederick Rogerson.
It is a “well-designed and well-built” group of houses. The estate includes houses on:
- Whitebeam Road
- Whitethorn Road
- Maple Road and
- Nearby roads.
Richview
The former Masonic Orphans’ School at Richview is now home to the UCD School of Architecture.
The building is made up of several periods of design. It combines the original Georgian house, a Victorian extension and a further 1960s extension.
Gledswood
Gledswood, off Bird Avenue, was built around 1930. It is “an attractive building with a plain façade“.
Roebuck Lawn Apartments
Robin also highlighted Roebuck Lawn Apartments, describing them as “simple and well-designed apartments“.
The Maples
The Maples was also praised for its design. Robin noted its well-planned layout and attractive setting, which makes it “a beautiful place to live“.
Church of the Miraculous Medal
The Church of the Miraculous Medal on Bird Avenue is a Byzantine-style building.
Its design was very controversial at the time. A design competition produced a number of modern church designs. None were to the liking of Archbishop McQuaid.
He commissioned a firm of church architects, whose design was eventually built.
An architects’ conference on church design was held the following year.
Within a few years, the Second Vatican Council took place and changed the Catholic Church’s approach to worship and church interiors.
This helped lead to modern church designs becoming more common in Ireland, for example the Burt Church in County Donegal.
