Pocket-sized guide to city’s landmark buildings launched
The doyenne of Irish food, Myrtle Allen, launched the booklet, which takes readers on a tour of some of the city’s finest buildings constructed between 1900 and 1998.
Ms Allen’s family has a rich background in architecture. Her father, architect Henry Hill, designed two of the southern capital’s best-known buildings – the College of Commerce on Morrison’s Island and the beautiful AIB building at 66 South Mall.
The pocket-sized booklet, A Guide to Cork’s 20th Century Architecture, by Tom Spalding, is the result of a joint initiative between the Cork Civic Trust and the Royal Institute of Architects in Ireland (RIAI) – the regulatory and support body for architects.
Mr Spalding said: “Some of these buildings are in immaculate condition; others have not fared so well but still remain important.
“This map and guide will lead visitors and locals through 65 selected buildings and structures to show how the styles and technology of 20th century architecture re-shaped Cork.”
His guide features nearly 100 colour photographs, featuring 65 key buildings and structures, as well as a detailed fold-out map of the city centre, accompanied by specially commissioned text on each of the buildings. It also provides information of bus routes which pass the buildings.
Some of the featured buildings include the former Beamish and Crawford plant, the Honan Chapel, Minihan’s Pharmacy, the Metropole Hotel, Barry Byrne’s internationally acclaimed mass-concrete Christ the King Church in Turner’s Cross, the former Roche’s Stores and Brown Thomas on St Patrick’s Street, the former Thompson’s building, the Opera House, the Savoy, and the Gate Cineplex.
The project was sponsored by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government as well as Cork Civic Trust and the RIAI’s southern regional branch.
Copies of the guide will be available from the Cork Vision Centre at St Peter’s on North Main Street.
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