DLR Lexicon

DLR Lexicon, branded as dlr LexIcon, is a building in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, housing the main public library and cultural centre of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (DLR CC). It has attracted controversy, with opponents critical of its massive façade and its €36.6m cost at a time of austerity in Ireland, and supporters praising its interior, usability, and environmentally responsible construction.[2][3][4]

The north and east façade of DLR Lexicon, viewed from the East Pier.

Construction

The 2004-10 DLR CC development plan included a new library and cultural centre as part of its urban regeneration scheme.[5] It stated:[6]

The need for specialised and centralised services in a Europe of the Regions setting will be promoted through the development of a Europe of the Regions Centre of Literature and Culture, which will be both a local and European focal point for literature, culture, and related co-operative activity.

The site chosen was Moran Park, a partially derelict public park with bowling green, running perpendicular to the coastline down an escarpment.[5][2] The site was chosen because it was already owned by DLR CC and would link The Metals (Queens Road) on the busy seafront to the north with George's Street, Dún Laoghaire's main shopping street, to the south.[3][5][2] Carr Cotter & Naessens, with a design by David Naessens, won the architecture competition in November 2007.[2] In May 2009 DLR CC launched the public consultation required under Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations;[7][8] a special development review meeting in November 2009 approved the plan by 22 votes to 3, rejecting Richard Boyd Barrett's proposal to locate the library on Carlisle Pier.[9][2] Sisk Group won the request for tender and began construction in April 2012.[10][2][5] Thirteen 40-tonne concrete rafters constructed in County Offaly were each brought on site in a single night.[5] The building was opened to the public for preview on Culture Night (19 September 2014) and Open House Dublin (19 October 2014[11]) and opened for general use on 8 December 2014.[3] The building won the 2014 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland award categories Best Culture and Best Public Building.[12][13]

Facilities

DLR Lexicon is structured in vertical layers, from a staff basement to a peak 29 metres above street level.[3][2] It includes adult, children's, and audiovisual lending libraries with 24-hour automated teller machines for returns; general and local history reference libraries; archives, and library administration offices.[14] There are large open spaces, smaller reading rooms, meeting rooms, an art gallery and workshop, and a performance space and auditorium.[5][15] A Brambles Café concession on the lower level opens onto a terrace in Moran Park.[3][4][16]

References
  1. "dlr LexIcon". dlr Libraries. DLR CC. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  2. Flaherty, Rachel (14 July 2014). "Dún Laoghaire council architect 'surprised' at criticism of new library". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  3. McDonald, Frank (8 November 2014). "Why I love Dún Laoghaire library". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  4. Barry, Aoife (19 July 2014). "This could be Ireland's library of the future – but why the controversy?". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  5. Murphy, Marcella (1 September 2014). "Dún Laoghaire's new Central Library – the DLR Lexicon". The Engineers Journal. Engineers Ireland. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  6. "Chapter 8 — Community" (PDF). County Development Plan. DLR CC. 2004. p. 110, § 8.4.1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 February 2005. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  7. "Minutes of the Dún Laoghaire Housing, Water & Waste, Economic Development & Community and Environment & Culture Area Committee Meeting". DLR CC. 25 May 2009. pp. DLWEHE/244/09. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  8. "Part 8 Schemes". DLR CC. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  9. "Page 242 17.6 SLO 18 - Moran Park Library" (PDF). Minutes of Special Meeting of County Council held in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on Wednesday 18th November 2009 4.00 pm. DLR CC. pp. 159–161. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  10. "Construction Approved: Dun Laoghaire County Library, Arts, Culture and Community Complex". News. Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  11. "dlr LexIcon". Open House Dublin. 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  12. Cullinan, Emma (19 June 2015). "Dún Laoghaire library recognised at architecture awards". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  13. "The Winners of the 2015 Irish Architecture Awards". News. Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  14. O'Shea, Rick (7 October 2014). "Inside dlr LexIcon". dlr Libraries blog. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  15. "DLR Lexicon – Building an Icon". Irish Building. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  16. "DLR LexIcon Library". dlr Events. DLR CC. Retrieved 19 June 2015. Brambles Café is situated on the Moran Park Level 1.
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