Too often, the historic visual representation of Ireland's eighteenth-century architecture takes the form of lavish coffee table books illustrating grand facades and elegant interiors exquisitely photographed alongside neat line drawings of plans and elevations. The building site in eighteenth-century Ireland by Arthur Gibney delves deep beneath that skin and provides historians with a clear picture of how Ireland's eighteenth-century building culture produced such fine architecture. His investigation of the making of Ireland's built heritage reveals a new architectural history of these buildings, literally exposing their skeletons and unravelling the complex evolution of their creation.
Arthur Gibney (1933–2006) was a distinguished architect and artist; the mark of his influence is reflected in his holding office as both president of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (1988–1989) and president of the Royal Hibernian Academy (1997–2005). Gibney's study of eighteenth-century building practices started out as a Ph.D. thesis at the University of Dublin (T.C.D.), undertaken in the 1990s. Since that time, it has become one of the most frequently referenced manuscripts in the Irish Architectural Archive. Inspired by this fact, and by the quality of the work contained in the unpublished thesis, Livia Hurley and Edward McParland set about the task of honouring Gibney's work via translation into book format.
Through careful editing and collation, the largely unaltered text is supported by approximately forty illustrations commissioned and selected by the editors to enhance the descriptive narrative. In addition to Gibney's research findings, the editors have thoughtfully added later research work by other authors to the footnotes. In this way, the book is presented as a true testimonial of Gibney's academic achievement, with updates reinforcing its relevance as a key reference source on the eighteenth-century built heritage.
The book traces the history of building practices from the late seventeenth century to the early nineteenth century, following the demise of the various craft guilds during a period when building processes became more industrialised, and through to the emergence of the general building contractor and the professional architect. The first two chapters set the scene, focusing on organisational structures and building contracts. This is a rare record of building design and management in a period which covers the construction of some of the most ambitious public buildings ever built in Ireland. Gibney presents us with a detailed analysis of practices uncovered through research of contractual documentation relating to well-known buildings including, among many others, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Trinity College Library, and Dr Steevens’ Hospital.
Each of the subsequent chapters deals with the archetypal building trades of the era. Gibney's investigation of the skills of each trade and the specifics of the materials used is forensic, but never rarefied. One gets a sense of the enjoyment he had in discovery. Each sentence, although packed with minutiae, runs with a fluidity that makes for easy absorption of the detail. He is not afraid to make assumptions based on his findings which he backs up with plenty of trademark common sense. Readers will enjoy the steady and meticulous text which flows very much like Arthur spoke. You can hear his voice – clear and passionate, delighting in the uncovering of tales on site.
Hurley and McParland have respectfully transposed Gibney's labour of love into a beautiful publication, and in doing so have ensured that this important treatise on the Irish eighteenth century building site is accessible to a larger audience. It provides all that is required to understand how these buildings came into being, from what they represent in terms of technological advancement to a better understanding of the lives of the people who built them. It also does far more than that: it teaches us about the necessity of good organisational skills; the need to understand how we use building materials, particularly in the Irish context; respect for excellent workmanship; and the importance of combining practical knowledge with theoretical views. It will be a benchmark for future analyses of later Irish architectural periods.
Gibney's scrupulous research into eighteenth-century building practices is a treasure trove of lore that will intrigue and entertain in equal measure. Since its publication, this book has become an essential historiographical resource for architectural historians, shining new light on the visual interpretation of our architectural heritage. Gibney's scrutiny and considerable expertise ensures that we all know what we are looking at now.
