Irish Architectural Archive
{{Short description|National archive in Dublin, Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox organization
| image = Irish_Architectural_Archive.JPG
| caption = The organisation's headquarters at 45 Merrion Square.
| name = Irish Architectural Archive
| formerly = National Trust Archive
| formation = 1976
| founders = An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland), Dr Edward McParland and Nicholas Robinson
| type = Non-governmental organisation
| purpose = Archiving of architectural materials, museum and gallery
| headquarters = 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
| region_served = Ireland
| leader_title = CEO
| leader_name = Colum O’Riordan
| location = Dublin, Ireland
| website = [https://iarc.ie/ www.iarc.ie]
}}
The Irish Architectural Archive was established in 1976 by Dr Edward McParland and Nicholas Robinson as the National Trust Archive.{{Cite news|last=Dunne|first=Aidan|title=Archives reveal recurrent nature of Ireland's housing crises|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/visual-art/archives-reveal-recurrent-nature-of-ireland-s-housing-crises-1.2914792|access-date=16 November 2020|newspaper=The Irish Times|language=en}} Its objective is to collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of Ireland, and make it available to the public. It is based at 45 Merrion Square, Dublin,{{Cite web|title=The Discovery Service|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13532082|access-date=16 November 2020|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=The Irish Architectural Archive|url=https://www.visitdublin.com/see-do/details/the-irish-architectural-archive|access-date=|website=Visit Dublin}} and is an independent private company with charitable status.{{cite web |url=https://iarc.ie/about-the-iaa/ |publisher=Irish Architectural Archive |title=About}} The repository serves as the main collection of diverse materials pertaining to Irish architecture.{{Cite book |last=Duffy |first=Patrick J. |url=http://archive.org/details/exploringhistory0000duff |title=Exploring the history and heritage of Irish landscapes |date=2007 |location=Dublin [Ireland] ; Portland, OR |publisher= Four Courts |isbn=978-1-85182-965-1}}
Founded under the authority of An Taisce, the Irish Architectural Archive seeks to accumulate authentic or, if unavailable, replicated documentation of Irish architecture, with the intention of providing unrestricted access to the public. The expanding assortment encompasses many forms of material, such as publications, books, sketches, etchings, paperwork, models, images, and prints. The focus lies on the time span ranging from 1560 to the contemporary. The diverse records encompass a wide range of structures found throughout Ireland, including both stately and traditional structures. They provide comprehensive information about the surroundings and characteristics of these buildings. In addition to the reading and research amenities, the archive offers a duplication service.{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/irishmuseumsguid0000unse |title=The Irish museums guide |date=1983 |location=Dublin |publisher= Ward River Press in association with the Irish Museums Trust |isbn=978-0-907085-55-3}} The archive is an impartial entity that refrains from participating in any form of development or preservation disputes. In addition, the archive actively implements a policy of publishing and engaging with the public through programmes for outreach.{{Cite book |last=Robert K. O'Neill |url=http://archive.org/details/isbn_9781903688304 |title=Irish Libraries: Archives, Museums and Genealogical Centres |date=2002-12-01 |publisher=Ulster Historical Foundation |isbn=978-1-903688-30-4}}
As of 2020, Colum O'Riordan was the director.{{Cite web|title=Conservation Traditional Building Skills Register: The Irish Architectural Archive|url=https://www.igs.ie/conservation/register/entry/irish-architectural-archive|website=Irish Georgian Society|access-date = 26 January 2021 }}
The IAA is governed by a Board of Directors, which is supported by a lay Community Advisory Group (CAG). Ruairi Quinn served as IAA Chairperson from 2020-2023.{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors – Irish Architectural Archive |url=https://iarc.ie/about-the-iaa/board-of-directors/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |language=en-GB}}[https://iarc.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/IAA_EHRD_Policy.pdf Being Accessible: An Equality, Human Rights and Diversity Policy for the IAA (2022)]
History
Edward McParland and Nicholas Robinson founded the National Trust Archive in 1976, with Nick Sheaf appointed the first director, and premises at 63 Merrion Square. Among the founding items in the collection were drawings “from the practice established in Ireland by Augustus Pugin in the late 1830s”.
Alistair Rowan was appointed director in 1981, and the organisation was renamed the Irish Architectural Archive and moved to number 73 Merrion Square.{{Cite book |last=Automobile Association (Great Britain) |url=http://archive.org/details/pocketguidetodub0000auto |title=Pocket Guide to Dublin |date=1992 |publisher=Automobile Assn. |isbn=978-0-7495-0455-7}}
The organisation was formally designated National Archive status in 1996, by Ruairi Quinn, who was then Minister of Finance.
A dedicated new headquarters at 45 Merrion Square, a Georgian building and the former home of Gustavus Hume constructed in 1794, was restored between 2002 and 2004 for use as an archive by the Office of Public Works.{{Cite web |title=Origins and Development |url=https://iarc.ie/about-the-iaa/origins-and-development/ |access-date=17 August 2020 |publisher=Irish Architectural Archive |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Irish Architectural Archive |url=https://openhousedublin.com/whats-on/irish-architectural-archive/ |access-date=16 November 2020 |website=Open House Dublin 2020 |language=en-US}}{{cite web |title=Irish Architectural Archive, 44-45 Merrion Square (East), Dublin 2, DUBLIN |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50100510/irish-architectural-archive-44-45-merrion-square-east-dublin-2-dublin |website=Buildings of Ireland |access-date=16 June 2023}}
The Irish Architectural Archive oversees the Dictionary of Irish Architects which it developed over a period of 30 years and launched formally in 2009 as an online archive.{{Cite web |title=Dictionary of Irish Architects Background {{!}} Irish Architectural Archive |url=https://www.dia.ie/irish-architects-dictionary/background |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.dia.ie}}
= Collections =
The archive comprises over 3,500 individual acquisitions, ranging from single items - a book, pamphlet, drawing or photograph - to the thousands of drawings and files created by large architectural practices.{{cn|date=September 2024}} The IAA's collections represent the largest body of historic architectural records in Ireland.{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} They include more than 250,000 architectural drawings, ranging in date from the late seventeenth to the twentieth centuries.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
Also housed in the archive are over 400,000 photographs, making it one of the largest collections of photographs in Ireland.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The archive also holds a reference library, with over 15,000 prints.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}} The IAA holds a collection of photographs and drawings, the Peter and Mary Doyle Collection, which was bequeathed by Irish modernist architects Peter and Mary Doyle.{{Cite web|title=Masters of the home office: Modernist home of late architects Peter and Mary Doyle on the market|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/masters-of-the-home-office-modernist-home-of-late-architects-peter-and-mary-doyle-on-the-market-39392068.html|access-date=16 November 2020|website=independent|language=en}}{{Cite book|last1=Boyd|first1=Gary A.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7eoDQAAQBAJ&q=Irish+architectural+archive&pg=PT14|title=Infrastructure and the Architectures of Modernity in Ireland 1916-2016|last2=McLaughlin|first2=John|date=5 December 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-351-92749-9|language=en}}
In 2001, Maurice Craig, an architectural historian, made a donation of two thousand pictures to the Irish Architectural Archive.{{Cite book |last=Craig |first=Maurice James |url=http://archive.org/details/mauricecraigphot0000crai |title=Maurice Craig : photographs |date=2011 |location=Dublin |publisher= Lilliput Press |isbn=978-1-84351-200-4}} The Irish Architectural Archive released a publication in 2019 that delved into the architectural aspects of Irish courthouses, spanning from the early 17th century to the present day. The book, titled 'Ireland's Court Houses,' was edited by Paul Burns, Ciaran O'Connor, and Colum O'Riordan. The book also includes a gazetteer that, for the first time in one volume, offered a thorough catalogue of courthouses throughout the entirety of Ireland.{{Cite web |title=History of Irish courthouses in beautiful new volume |url=https://www.lawsociety.ie/gazette/top-stories/2019/09-september/a-history-of-irish-courthouses-in-beautiful-new-volume |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.lawsociety.ie}}
In June 2022, a display, organised by the National Archives in conjunction with the Irish Architectural Archive, opened to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the decimation of the Public Record Office during the Irish Civil War. The installation featured a collection of images, architectural schematics and designs, maps and elevations, film clips, and salvaged records.{{Cite web |date=2022-06-30 |title=Exhibition telling the story of the Public Record Office, destroyed in June 1922, opens at the Irish Architectural Archive |url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5eff3-exhibition-telling-the-story-of-the-public-record-office-destroyed-in-june-1922-opens-at-the-irish-architectural-archive/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.gov.ie |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Bromwell |first=Philip |date=2022-06-27 |title=Groundbreaking project brings lost archive back to life |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0627/1306668-virtual-record-office/ |language=en}} In September 2022, Robert O'Byrne, an architecture blogger, donated a comprehensive digital collection of photographs he had captured from 2012 to 2022 to the IAA. In addition, he organised a showcase in the offices of the IAA.{{Cite journal |date=2022-11-29 |title=Robert O'Byrne on blogging about Ireland's architectural heritage |url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2022/1129/1338153-robert-obyrne-on-blogging-about-irelands-architectural-heritage/ |language=en}}
The IAA also possesses the initial design of Leinster House, created by Richard Castle.{{Cite web |last=Oireachtas |first=Houses of the |date=2020-11-09 |title=Buildings – Houses of the Oireachtas |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/history-and-buildings/buildings |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=www.oireachtas.ie |language=en-ie}}
Exhibitions
Exhibitions, held at the IAA, have included:
- 2023, The Coiffured, by artist and sociologist, Amanda Jane Graham.{{Cite journal |date=2023-01-23 |title=The Coiffured: Amanda Jane Graham on the art of hairdressing |url=https://www.rte.ie/culture/2023/0123/1349009-the-coiffured-amanda-jane-graham-on-the-art-of-hairdressing/ |language=en}}
- 3–13 March 2020, Exhibition for a Good Man, a solo exhibition by Irish artist Paula Pohli.{{Cite web|date=25 January 2020|title=Exhibition for a Good Man|url=https://wsimag.com/art/60489-exhibition-for-a-good-man|access-date=16 November 2020|website=Wall Street International|language=en}}
- 2019, A Visual Window to an Ecclesiastical World, of historical drawings of Church of Ireland buildings, curated by Dr Michael O’Neill FSA.{{Cite web|last=Mac Donald|first=Sarah|date=7 May 2019|title=Exhibition on Church of Ireland's historical architectural drawings|url=https://www.catholicireland.net/exhibition-church-irelands-historical-architectural-drawings/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 November 2020|website=Catholicireland.net|language=en-US}}
- 2018, Memorialising the Sacred, an installation exploring sacred buildings in Crete, curated by Anthony Kelly, Seán McCrum, Paddy Sammon and David Stalling.{{Cite web|last=Mac Donald|first=Sarah|date=14 March 2018|title=Dublin exhibition on the churches and wayside shrines of Crete|url=https://www.catholicireland.net/dublin-exhibition-churches-wayside-shrines-crete/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 November 2020|website=Catholicireland.net|language=en-US}}
- 2017, House and Home, an exhibition of drawings, publications, models and photographs of mid-18th century to late 20th-century Irish homes. The exhibition marked the 40th anniversary of the archive.
- 2016, ICC Speak, a collaboration with the Irish Composers’ Collective, featuring immersive installations and performances by: Anna Clifford and Veronica Szabo (Very Clock theatre company); Michelle O’Rourke; the Kirkos Ensemble (who performed work by Adam Bradley, Kevin Free and Robbie Blake); Tonnta Music (who performed compositions by Róisín Hayes and Shell Dooley).{{Cite web|last=Caffrey|first=Shauna|date=|title=ICC Speak at the Irish Architectural Archive {{!}} Review {{!}} Live Review|url=https://www.goldenplec.com/live-reviews/icc-speak-at-the-irish-architectural-archive-review/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=16 November 2020|website=GoldenPlec|language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.iarc.ie/ Irish Architectural Archive]
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