RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

Dublin - Over £200,000

The understated renovation of Collins Barracks concentrates on circulation and the highlighting of exhibits. The entrance enables the visitor to walk through the former parade ground and experience the space made by the original building. The new building elements integrate the display cases with the existing walls and smaller rooms becoming display cases in themselves. The exhibits read as precious objects in a cool and well detailed interior. This is a good example of a successful collaboration between the consultant architects and the Office of Public Works, who acted in this case, not just as joint architects but also as enlightened clients.

Architects' Comment
The Inaugural exhibition is organised in a more abstract context than the conventional National Museum Collections. The displays are organised around a continuous narrative beginning with the history of the barracks through a thematic sequence of exhibitions to the future of the Museum. Complementary to this concept are the 'pilot' exhibitions in the South Wing which display the traditional themes of silver, glass and furniture.

Clients' Comment
The Director of the National Museum has expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the architects for this conversion of Europe's oldest military barracks. Dr. Wallace particularly welcomes the emphasis on conservation which is especially appropriate to the remit of the National Museum. He commends the non intrusive environmental controls and the clever use of space and believes high standards have now been set for future stages.