Gas Company Building, Dublin
Without doubt the classiest art deco building in Dublin, the Gas Company saleroom stands in a traffic choked street, never without a bus parked in front of it during daylight hours. This building was for sale by tender, c£8m sought in 2001!! It closed in 2002 and was refurbished by Trinity College for use in nursing education.
Dublin Architects Robinson & Keefe 1928 head office for the city gas service, which is very near O'Connell Bridge in Dublin, is a splendid Art Deco design. It has mostly escaped major change. The black smooth polished granite exterior, the contrasting chrome, the etched glass showing scenes of gas making over the showroom windows all remain, as do some of the architectural fittings and a fine interior hanging clock. Zig-zag glazing bars on the upstairs windows vanished and an automatic folding door was added. These changes have been reversed in the recent refurbishment.
Gas Co facade in 1998 ©
Gas Company facade in 2006, after refurbishment,from Art Deco Ireland.
Decorative element on window from Art Deco Ireland
Worth going down the little lane to see the very different back facade to this building. The large building immediately facing you, as you exit from this lane,(yes that one, shudder) is built on the site, in Hawkins Street, of the demolished Theatre Royal which had a deco exterior.