Irish Architectural Archive
The Irish Architectural Archive was established in 1976 by Dr Edward McParland and Nicholas Robinson as the National Trust Archive. Its objective is to collect and preserve material of every kind relating to the architecture of Ireland, and make it available to the public. It is based at 45 Merrion Square, Dublin, and is an independent private company with charitable status. 45 Merrion Square, a Georgian building constructed in 1794, was restored between 2002 and 2004 for use as an archive by the Office of Public Works. The repository serves as the main collection of diverse materials pertaining to Irish architecture.
The organisation's headquarters at 45 Merrion Square. | |
| Formation | 1976 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-governmental organisation |
| Purpose | Archiving of architectural materials |
| Headquarters | 45 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 |
| Location |
|
CEO | Colum O’Riordan |
| Website | www.iarc.ie |
Formerly called | National Trust Archive |
Founded under the authority of An Taisce, the Irish Architectural Archive seeks to accumulate authentic or, if unavailable, replicated documentation of Irish architecture, with the intention of providing unrestricted access to the public. The expanding assortment encompasses many forms of material, such as publications, books, sketches, etchings, paperwork, models, images, and prints. The focus lies on the time span ranging from 1560 to the contemporary. The diverse records encompass a wide range of structures found throughout Ireland, including both stately and traditional structures. They provide comprehensive information about the surroundings and characteristics of these buildings. In addition to the reading and research amenities, the archive offers a duplication service. The archive is an impartial entity that refrains from participating in any form of development or preservation disputes. In addition, the archive actively implements a policy of publishing and engaging with the public through programmes for outreach.
The Irish Architectural Archive oversees the Dictionary of Irish Architects. The IAA features in the 2004 book Walking Dublin: Twenty-Four Original Walks In and Around Dublin.
The archive comprises over 3,500 individual acquisitions, ranging from single items - a book, pamphlet, drawing or photograph - to the thousands of drawings and files created by large architectural practices.
As of 2020, Colum O'Riordan was the director.
The IAA is governed by a Board of Directors, which is supported by a lay Community Advisory Group (CAG). Ruairi Quinn served as IAA Chairperson from 2020-2023.