RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

Southern Over €300,000

This project consists of the scholarly investigation and careful conservation of a prominent historic building in the town of Clonmel. The architect has patiently unravelled the layers of time and revealed the early origins of the Main Guard which had been obscured by later accretions. By using gentle repairs to the existing historic fabric, and by the provision of simple and elegantly detailed facilities on the footprint of the original return, the architect has provided Clonmel with a source of civic pride, and the town has regained the public use of this important urban building.

Architect's Comment
The Main Guard was built in 1675 by the Duke of Ormond as the Palatinate courthouse. Its significance lies in its transitional character between the medieval and classical. It is one of Ireland's earliest public classical buildings, sited axially on the main street of the medieval town.

Its structural stability was severly damaged in 1810 when the front columns were removed, a basement excavated, its volumes subdivided and the site colonised by development. Investigation established that most of the 17th century form and fabric survived these alterations and also that this fabric incorporated stone from Cistercian ruins nearby.

The aim was to restore structural stability while retaining original fabric. Works involved reinstatement of structure, repair of masonry and roof and reinsertion of the main floor at its original level. Stone repair and replacement are differentiated from the original. Interior walls are left unplastered to reveal the scars of the 1810 alterations1.

New accommodation is clearly differentiated, using steel, timber, lime-rendered blockwork and glass, and clad externally in sheet lead and timber. New volumes to the rear are lit from above. The design of the stairs and stair hall, within the footprint of the original return, aims to restore coherence to a space diminished by the loss of quarter of its area.

The restoration of the arcade has resulted in the return of a significant urban space to public use.

Clients' Comment
The Main Guard became part of the OPW portfolio of national monuments on transfer from Clonmel Corporation, who had acquired it in the 1980's when it had become severely dilapidated.

The brief to the architect was in two parts. The first was the conservation and restoration of the Main Guard itself in its 17th century form. This was based on an agreed approach arising from the architect's study and discovery of the surviving original building hidden within later alterations. The stabilisation of the later form, incorporating the alterations, would have required major structural intervention, obscuring the earlier form which is of greater significance. The brief also required the provision of visitor facilities with universal access, staff accommodation and future access to a building at the rear.

Compliance with the brief has been achieved in a way that creates clarity of division between the original 17th century structure and the modern building. The original building is presented, with all the deformations of time, in a comprehensible form, that allows flexible use and ready interpretation to the visitor and contributes significantly to the town's public space. The new building has a distinction of its own in the detailing of the elements, the materials used and the introduction of light into the inner spaces.

The resulting complex has provided a monument carefully restored in accordance with best conservation practice and which fulfils its brief to the highest standard.