River House (Dublin)

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Coordinates: 53°20′48″N 6°16′21″W / 53.34675°N 6.27243°W / 53.34675; -6.27243
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River House
River House (Dublin) is located in Central Dublin
River House (Dublin)
General information
Address21/25 Chancery Street/Greek Street
Town or cityDublin
CountryRepublic of Ireland
Coordinates53°20′48″N 6°16′21″W / 53.34675°N 6.27243°W / 53.34675; -6.27243
Completed1973
Technical details
Floor count5
Design and construction
Architecture firmPatrick J. Sheahan and Partners

River House was a 5-storey office block on Chancery Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland. It was described as a "brutalist eyesore" by the Sunday Times.[1][2]

History[edit]

Permission to build River House was granted in 1972, and the building was completed in 1973. It had curtain walling at ground and 1st floor levels, with 4 additional storeys above with pre-cast cladding.[3] The architect of the building has been disputed. Frank McDonald attributed it to John Thompson and Partners, but this led to a libel suit during which it was stated that "neither John or David Thompson of the firm John Thompson and Partners had anything to do with the design or erection of River House". It appears to have been the work of Patrick J. Sheahan and Partners.[4][5]

After a dispute between the Department of Justice and the Dublin Corporation as to who would occupy the building, the corporation established its motor tax office in the office block, and for many years it was Dublin's only motor tax office. The building stood vacant from the late 2000s, and attracted anti-social behaviour.[6]

River House was described as "scourge" to the area, and "is considered to be of little or no architectural merit".[7] It was recorded by the Dublin City Council as a dangerous building in February 2016.[8]

Demolition and redevelopment[edit]

River House was initially purchased by Joe and Patrick Linders, who were involved in the redevelopment of parts of the Smithfield area.[9] The building was purchased by Melonmount Ltd in 2017 for €8 million, and permission was sought to demolish it and replace it with a hotel.[7][10] The financier, Derek Quinlan, was an advisor on the deal.[9] An Taisce have been critical of the proposed replacement building, describing it as "monolithic" and "lumpen".[7] River House was demolished in 2018.[2]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "What Was Here Before: Derelict Dublin". Totally Dublin. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b "River House (1973-2018)". Come Here To Me!. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  3. ^ McDonald, Frank (1985). The destruction of Dublin. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan. p. 159. ISBN 0717113868.
  4. ^ "1973 – River House, 21/25 Chancery Street, Dublin". Archiseek - Irish Architecture. 28 March 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  5. ^ "River House, Chancery Street, Dublin 7 | Built Dublin". Built Dublin. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  6. ^ MacNamee, Garreth (28 March 2017). "Dublin could get new eight-storey hotel as vacant "scourge" set to be demolished". TheJournal.ie. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b c "A major hotel due to replace a 'scourge' of Dublin's north side has been branded 'monolithic'". TheJournal.ie. 2 July 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Dublin City Architects Blog — DCC DANGEROUS BUILDINGS SECTION – FEBRUARY". Dublin City Council. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  9. ^ a b Fagan, Jack (1 February 2017). "Derek Quinlan an adviser on €8m deal for former motor tax office". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  10. ^ Daly, Gavin (23 April 2017). "Brutalist eyesore River House set to make way for hotel". The Times. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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