Open House Dublin

Fantastic weekend looking forward to next year already! The Totally Dublin Map was ideal, it would have worked even better with the Open House Dublin website if the buildings were numbered on the website as on the map. I used both in Tandem to plan my weekend. Also if the listings were spread over three days and set out in order of days available for viewing it would be so much clearer. Altogether extremey well planned and managed, wonderful opportunity to see the amazing architecture of Dublin.

I was lucky enough to get a sneak preview with Unilocal of the Open House Dublin tour of 9/​9a Aungier St, a house built in 1664 and one of the oldest surviving domestic dwellings in Dublin.
We often think of Dublin’s Georgian past when it comes to the architecture of the city but Aungier st. as part of the Aungier Estate was the first planned street outside the old medieval city walls. It was a very fashionable address and home to nobility, aristocrats and well-​to-​do merchants.
No. 9/​9A was discovered as still having its original structure despite its purpose and its living accommodation changing considerably over its 350 years and MESH architects have taken on a massive, time consuming restoration work here.
We started our tour outside the Chester Beatty in the grounds of Dublin Castle where we were given a historical overview of medieval Dublin and the event that led to the laying out of Aungier St. We then proceeded out the Ship st gate and turned left up the cobbled street to Stephens Street Lower. We stopped and had a quick look in above The Central Dairy building which is also a restoration project in progress before heading to 9/​9A.
One of the architects involved in restoring this fabulous old building gave us a tour discussing the structure, how it has been altered and what they can learn from the way the house was built and from analysing the materials used. I unfortunately had to leave the tour early but before I left I learned how the craftsmen often used superstitious markings on the rafters and joists to bless the building and that by analysing the plasterwork an paint they can tell what was burnt in the fireplaces and can deduct from this how the rooms were used. How cool is that?
It was amazing to see the house stripped back to the bare bones so that you could see how it was built and see how much work goes into a restoration project such as this! This is not a tour for little ones, this house is a building site right now.
*******
I also did a tour of the Grand Canal Dock area yesterday with one of the architects who was involved in designing a number of blocks in the area, which was very interesting. My only criticism would be that he didn’t have a great speaking voice, too low for a tour.
********
I also gave tours as part of Open House yesterday. I volunteer at Marsh’s Library and while I am definitely biased (I’m also a librarian) it’s a great place to visit at an event like this as they often include the garden which visitors don’t normally get to see!

this is a unique opportunity to see some fascinating, historical buildings outside the big name tours of the major historical sites. Dublin is my home city and I am a Dublin expert but I was very impressed by the information and sights on this tour — even getting great maps of the area. Everyone was very friendly and it was a great experience. It was great to see these buildings before they are fully restored to their original glory. Though I sometimes travel through Aungier Street eight times per day, I had no idea of its history and importance. Thank you Emily for making this happen

I really enjoyed this Open House Dublin’s event. I am not familiar with the architecture terms, but the fact that you can be inside of an old and historic houses in Dublin is priceless. I love to know more and more about this city, so it was a experience that I could not miss.
It is a unique opportunity to have a view from the past and Dublin’s history.
My favourite part of the tour was being inside of the 9/​9a Aungier Street house of course. A lot of interesting things (even more amazing if you have some architecture knowledges ;)) and the fact that these houses are still here is amazing! And the best part is that you can be part of this historic houses for a while.
The guides were very friendly and nice. They share with you interesting knowledges! The only problem is that in a couple of stops of the visit, which are outside, in the street, it is so difficult to heard properly because of the noises, so I missed some information :(
As John has highlighted, take a good jacket and scarf because otherwise you can get a cold, as I did :(
It is an absolutely worth it event that I would recommend to every one who wants to know more about the history of Dublin and learn curious architecture details from the past. Of course, it is a mandatory visit for architects! :P

This sneak preview of a tour scheduled for Open House Dublin weekend was a feast of information and experience!
Aungier Street was the first planned suburban estate to emerge from post medieval Dublin. As such, it is a vital link in understanding the transformation of the city from a relatively haphazard and claustrophobic medieval organism to the more planned and organised structure of Georgian Dublin onwards. It is also a period of Dublin urban development which — sadly! — does not seem as well known or publicised as the earlier and later periods.
This tour addressed that regrettable oversight with gusto!
Although centred on the house at 9/​9a Aungier Street, the first house developed and the most original currently accessible, the tour also extended to two other houses, a pub and the Church at Whitefriar Street. Throughout, a feast of information was presented with clarity, enthusiasm and humour by the tour ‘guides’ (who are also the people involved in this area on a daily basis, so can really speak from experience).
In a densely packed two-​hour tour, our guides managed to convey fascinating insight into:
— why Aungier Street emerged when and where it did
— how the design of the houses could be related to earlier dwellings and pointed to future directions in house design
— how the dynamics of urban development in Dublin resulted in Aungier losing its prestige status to the Fitzwilliam and Gardiner estates within a surprisingly short period
— the role of the Church as a facilitator and supporter of urban development
— what the future holds for this incredibly historic but somewhat overlooked area of Dublin.
We were very fortunate to be given this sneak preview by people who live and breathe urban investigation, understanding and renewal. Thank you!

Seeing the bones of the oldest intact house/​dwelling place in the city is an extraordinary experience. The Unilocal Elite Open House tour of 9/​9a Aungier Street started at the Chester Beatty Library to give us a visual overview of the masterplan. Aungier Street is apparently the oldest planned street in the city, ending at the now-​vanished St George’s Church which faced Dame Street. We ‘processed’ out the back of the Castle, as one does, along Stephen Street, where in some waste ground, the medieval ditch of Dublin is still apparently visible. How cool is that? It reminds how every corner of Dublin has a history, sometimes several histories.
The Central Dairy shop on Stephen Street, which used to be a defunct newsagents, now hosts a lovely designer shop on the ground floor, and the upper floors are being restored. I think it’s amazing to be able to see an old house stripped back to the bare essentials. The tour of 9/​9a was the highlight, the guides from Open House had their work cut out for them getting people to move on the next part of the tour, so fascinating was each room. Such a privilege to be shown around by people whose knowledge is driven by a passion for Dublin’s history which I suspect in neither profitable nor popular. I hope the Open House event this year (17 – 19 October) is a success and is a showcase for the great work that’s being done by the Irish Architecture Foundation.
A big thank you to Emily for organising this event. Another quirky idea from the ever-​creative Unilocal CM!

What an unexpected journey through old world Dublin! I thoroughly enjoyed this event as it once again allowed me in to places I might never have otherwise been able to get in to. We started at the Chester Beatty Library and got the lowdown on the architecture of the area and how it looked years ago. We then walked on to look through an old house above a boutique where the very smiley Brendan Courtney allowed us in, 9/​9a Aungier Street which is going through an extremely delicate restoration, another house on Aungier Street which is yet to be restored, the Whitefriar Street Church, and JJ Swans pub (which I unfortunately had to miss).
The tour guides had an amazing degree of experience and local knowledge, way more than I expected, and were very nice. I always find storied of Dublin interesting so I enjoyed myself. There were times I couldn’t hear everything that they were saying when we were on the road, due to noise levels, but that’s not their fault, and we were all too polite to push in to each other!
This tour was only a sneak preview of a small Open House Festival so I can just imagine the things that people will see when it launches, and the stories they will hear.
Make sure you bring a jacket and scarf if you are going when it launches as it was cold at times, but I’m not one to dock a star for the weather, especially in October.
Great for interested in Irish history heads, love creaky floorboards heads, and, any opportunity you get to snoop around old buildings a la Grand Designs must be jumped on heads!