TWO BARS AT THE ROYAL IRISH YACHT CLUB

The project to refurbish two bars at the Royal Irish Yacht Club took place on two levels both literally and metaphorically. The Upper Bar located in the finely proportioned classical rooms provided spaces which are in total contrast to the rough hewn stone and vaulted spaces on the lower level which were originally intended for boat storage. The Royal Irish Yacht Club designed by John Skipton Mulvany is a protected structure and consequently the project commenced with a detailed evaluation of the existing building and a comprehensive survey both drawn and photographic. The practice was fortunate enough to have Giovanna Gagliardind, a Conservation Architect from the University of Florence working on this stage of the project.

The Upper Bar. In the original building no Bar had been envisaged, as in the early days Club members would be served by staff who would transport drinks on silver trays whenever they were required. Some 40 years ago a Bar was installed in the space occupied by the communicating door between two main reception rooms, thus providing two separate drinking areas.

The reinstatement of these communicating doors and the reintroduction of the possibility of using both spaces as a single room were central to the design decisions. It was further decided that due to the quality of the interiors particularly mouldings, architraves, skirting boards and other architectural features that the new bar should be free-standing and in no way directly interact with the fabric of the existing building.

The design of the new Bar constructed in Black American Walnut incorporates a hoist which connects from the corner of this room. The position of the new Bar allowed it to serve the existing Bar areas, the Drawing Room and the external terrace, thus providing a central hub around which the social activities at the Upper Level of the Club could take place.

A new lighting scheme was installed and new leather furniture with custom designed tables was provided. The entire space was redecorated using a very dark nautical blue, a historic colour which dates from the time of the Club's construction.

The vaulted ceilings and the granite stonework of the Club's original boathouse provided an exceptional space for a Wet Bar and dance area which could be used in a less formal manner to the classical rooms on the upper level.

As with the upstairs Bar the interventions at the lower level have been minimal, with little or no interference to the existing fabric of the building. All existing surface mounted electrical conduit and pipework was removed from this area and concealed under the floor slab leaving the remaining highly textured surfaces clean, exposed and in a position to be highlighted by the new lighting system.

The Bar itself originally located against the rere wall of the Boathouse is now centrally placed providing a number of different sized spaces around it and incorporating the hoist that serves the main bar overhead.

The perimeter walls have been clad in panels of White American oak placed at an angle of seven degrees off the vertical reminiscent of the interior of a ship's hull and providing a zone behind them to accommodate radiators, pipework, wiring and concealed lighting. Two oak glazed screens provide a link between the Wet Bar and the Library. This room has now been designed to allow for a number of conditions depending on the different uses envisaged.

The differing character between the two Bars straddling the divide between relaxed and casual to the highly formal reflects the Club's membership and differing age groups. It provides a variety of possibilities for the members and flexibility for the Club which was the starting point for the brief.

Photographs copyright Kevin Dunne.