Is this a cheesy design or world's greatest building?
A DUBLIN community centre shaped like a block of Swiss cheese has been shortlisted for the title of "Best Building in the World".
The eye-catching but modestly-sized centre in East Wall has found itself up against international heavyweights such as Beijing's iconic 'Bird's Nest' Olympic Stadium in the prestigious competition.
The shock decision to shortlist the centre was announced by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
The Sean O'Casey Community Centre is one of two Irish buildings in the running for the institute's prestigious 'Lubetkin' prize. The other is Alto Vetro -- a glass-fronted apartment tower in Dublin's Docklands.
RIBA president Sunand Prasad said while the prize included some of the world's biggest projects, it also featured "some lower-key, beautifully crafted and lower cost schemes."
Landmark
The Sean O'Casey centre, which has been in operation for 23 years was rebuilt and extended as part of a €9m plan part- funded by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Government.
The new centre, designed by architects O'Donnell and Tuomey, has quickly become a new landmark in the area thanks to its radical design.
Alto Vetro is a 16-storey residential tower at Grand Canal Dock, designed by Shay Cleary Architects.
The other shortlisted buildings include Beijing's International Airport Terminal 3, and that city's new train station.
A winner will be announced on Tuesday July 14 at a reception held at the Foreign Office in London.
The prize is awarded for the most outstanding building by an RIBA member and is chosen from winners of RIBA International Awards.
According to the architects, the Sean O'Casey Centre is intended to be "a knot in the grain" of the existing buildings in East Wall.
Unique
Four separately functioning blocks emerge from a single storey plinth which is cut out to form four courtyard gardens. Three sizes of circular windows and roof-lights are set into an outer corrugated concrete shell.
Small portholes at eye-level, middle size windows at desk-level also contribute to its unique look.
One architect recently described it as "a Swiss cheese building, floating in a sea of dark slate roofs".
aphelan@herald.ie
- Andrew Phelan
