Art Deco Gallery
The Gas Building
The former Gas Company headquarters occupying a site fronting onto D'Olier Street, Hawkins Street and Leinster Market is a complex structure representing several phases of development and construction. The earliest phase of construction dates back to 1818 when the Dublin Library Society acquired a site on D'Olier Street from the Wide Streets Commissioners.
This block was subsequently remodelled to the designs of Robinson and Keefe in the art Deco style between 1931 and 1934. Today the Gas Company building survives as one of the finest public buildings of the interwar period in Dublin. The combination of the quaint Neo-Tudor and jazzy Art Deco styles in one building is unique in Dublin and both styles lending themselves well to the streetscapes into which they were integrated.
The Art Deco interiors of the building are among the finest in the country particularly when one considers the loss of so many fine Art Deco interiors.
The panelled interiors or the Board Room and Directors office are particularly good examples of that style of domestic architecture satirised by Osbert Lancaster as ‘Stockbroker Tudor' though found here in a commercial setting. The survival of so many smaller fixtures and fitting from the 1930s such as sanitary wares and light fittings is also of interest and as part of the proposed conversation and adaptation of this building to provide for the School of Nursing to Trinity College Dublin, all due care is taken to preserve these fittings as well as the unique character of the overall structure.
Gallery
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Gas Building Facade, D'Olier Street
The School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies is located at The Gas Building, 24 D'Olier Street , Dublin 2. As part of this remodelling of the Gas Building in 1933 Robinson and Keefe refaced the exterior of the building in polished black marble and polished granite cladding was retained behind the new cladding and this is still visible at ground floor level to the south side. Internally the entire ground floor was opened up to provide a single showroom space. The original Portland stone staircase was retained in its original location but was altered in part, possibly to accommodate change in the first floor level. The Art Deco showroom is one of the finest interiors of its kind in Ireland . The combination of the terrazzo floor, richly veneered panelling and crystal chandeliers combine to augment an interior of considerable grandeur. The rotunda at the inner end of the showroom forms an ingenious pivot junction between the D'Olier Street and Hawkins Street blocks, which are set at an angle to each other. Rotundas have been used for similar purposes for many centuries, in Dublin it was used at the now demolished St. Anne's House to link the Drawing Room and the Dining Room, which were at angles to each other. The Rotunda is also lavishly embellished and has a very fine crystal chandelier.
Portland stone fireplace, Director's meeting room
Portland stone fireplace in the Director's meting room. The first phase of Robinson Keefe's works appears to have been the construction of a new block on Hawkins Street adjoining a plain red brick block built by the Gas Company in 1905. The new block contained on the first floor an office for the General Manager, a Board Room and a Lunch Room. These rooms were panelled in oak and had elaborate Portland stone chimneypieces, details of which survive in further drawings. The rooms also retain a number of interesting fittings, dating from this period such as the brass chandeliers and clocks set with out frames into the panelling. The staircases in the Leinster Market and Hawkins Street blocks also date from this time.
View of ceiling of Lecture Theatre (1)
View of ceiling of Lecture Theatre. The theatre was created when the D'Olier Street block was remodelled in 1933. A theatre was provided at first floor level while a top lit badminton court was provided on the upper most floors.
View of ceiling of Lecture Theatre (2)
Another view of ceiling of Lecture Theatre. The theatre was created when the D'Olier Street block was remodelled in 1933. A theatre was provided at first floor level while a top lit badminton court was provided on the upper most floors.
Skylight, D'Olier Street block
Elaborate skylight which dates from the 1933 remodelling of the D'Olier Street block.
Neo-Tudor detail, Leinster Market wing
Neo-Tudor detail. View of external timber framework and window balcony feature of the picturesque Neo-Tudor style of the Leinster Market wing of building. The picturesque Neo-Tudor style leant itself well to the narrow laneway that is Leinster Market. The pretty bridge, warm brickwork and external timber framework make this relatively unknown street one of the most atmospheric in Dublin .
Handrail, D'Olier St. block
Detail of curved ending of a handrail on staircase leading to the basement in the D'Olier Street block
Image 08 Art Deco foyer (1)
The Art Deco foyer. The combination of the terrazzo floor, richly veneered panelling and crystal chandeliers combine to augment an interior of considerable grandeur.
Glass cortile, Room 1.10
The glass cortile Room 1.10. The central ‘cortile' space contained the General Office is particularly complex in plan and uses a range of decorative motifs inspired by Persian and Egyptian architecture. Such styles would have been very much in vogue following the discovery of Tutankarnen's tomb in 1923. The coffin shaped doors and decorative detail to the cornice are the most typically Egyptian in style while the overall plan form takes inspiration from Persian palace chambers and in part, Moorish patios.
Art Deco railing detail, foyer entrance
An Art Deco railing detail inside foyer entrance. The Art Deco showroom is one of the finest interiors of its kind in Ireland . The combination of the terrazzo floor, richly veneered panelling and crystal chandeliers combine to augment an interior of considerable grandeur.
Crystal chandelier, rotunda, Art Deco showroom foyer (1)
The fine crystal chandelier of the rotunda at the inner end of the Art Deco showroom foyer. Rose. The rotunda at the inner end of the showroom forms an ingenious pivot junction between the D'Olier Street and Hawkins Street blocks, which are set at an angle to each other. Rotundas have been used for similar purposes for many centuries, in Dublin it was used at the now demolished St. Anne's House to link the Drawing Room and the Dining Room, which were at angles to each other. The Rotunda is also lavishly embellished and has a very fine crystal chandelier.
Art Deco foyer (2)
The Art Deco foyer. The combination of the terrazzo floor, richly veneered panelling and crystal chandeliers combine to augment an interior of considerable grandeur.
Crystal chandelier, rotunda, Art Deco showroom foyer (2)
Detail of one of the fine crystal chandliers in the Art Deco showroom foyer.
Staircase to top floor, D'Olier St. block
View of staircase leading to the top floor of D'Olier Street block.
Coffin shaped door surrounding glass cortile
One of the coffin shaped doors surrounding the glass cortile. The central ‘cortile' space contained the General Office is particularly complex in plan and uses a range of decorative motifs inspired by Persian and Egyptian architecture. Such styles would have been very much in vogue following the discovery of Tutankarnen's tomb in 1923. The coffin shaped doors and decorative detail to the cornice are the most typically Egyptian in style while the overall plan form takes inspiration from Persian palace chambers and in part, Moorish patios.
Detail of cornicing, Art Deco showroom foyer
Detail of cornicing in Art Deco showroom foyer.