Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Contemporary Landscape
Dublin has a somewhat troubled relationship with modern architecture. The big projects of
the post-war years, such as Busáras (1953) and Liberty Hall (1965), have divided critics,
who expressed a more favourable opinion of Paul Koralek's bold and brazen Berkeley
Library (1967) in the grounds of Trinity College.
It wasn't until the explosive growth of the 1990s that the city's modern landscape really
began to improve, even if some of the early constructions - such as the Irish Financial Ser-
vices Centre (IFSC; 1987) and the Waterways Visitor Centre (1994) - don't seem as im-
pressive now as they did when they first opened.
The most impressive makeover has occurred in the Docklands, which has been trans-
formed from quasi-wasteland to a fine example of contemporary urban design. Old build-
ings have been refurbished, but it's the new buildings that really catch the eye. Three of
these opened in 2010 to great applause: the impressive, tube-shaped National Convention
Centre on the quays; the Grand Canal Quay's stunning Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, designed
by Daniel Libeskind; and, just to the south, the new 50,000 capacity Aviva Stadium, easily
visible thanks to its eye-catching curvilinear-shaped stand.
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