McCullough Mulvin Architects

Butler Gallery

Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray

BUTLER GALLERY

Mccullough Mulvin Architects

ARCHITECTS
Mccullough Mulvin Architects

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Stephen Diamond Associates

CONSERVTION CONSULTANT
Carrig Conservation

STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
O’Connor Sutton Cronin

MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
Noel Lawlor Consulting Engineers

QUANTITY SURVEYOR
Brendan Merry & Partners

MAIN CONTRACTOR
Mythen Construction

PHOTOGRAPHS
Ros Kavanagh, Ste Murray, Brendan Merry and Partners

AREA
890 m²

YEAR
2020

LOCATION
Kilkenny, Ireland

CATEGORY
Gallery, Adaptive Reuse, Historic Preservation

Architects Ruth O’Herlihy and Niall McCullough’s design has transformed a former almshouse in Kilkenny into a new cultural resource for the city. Save this picture!

Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray

Providing a variety of spaces for art, installations and sculpture both inside and out, the existing building has been sensitively restored and combined with contemporary interventions in the form of two, two-storey bronze coloured extensions to form an aggregate of the old and the new.

These extensions are connected to the restored almshouse through light-filled glazed passageways, and together form a seamless set of routes and spaces.

Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh

The fine detail and material of the original Evans home contrasts with the simplicity of these new architectural insertions, whilst their common function inextricably connects them.

The main section of the existing 1818 almshouse has been conserved in its essential character. The south wing provides a large, climate controlled, temporary exhibition space to house a variety of visual art exhibitions.

Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray
Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray

In contrast, naturally lit, climate controlled galleries in the original rooms will house both the permanent collection and the bequest of Tony O’Malley. The building is connected to the sculpture garden through a series of bold geometric concrete ramps which twist through the history of the site.

The project is an architectural experiment about how the radical re-use of existing buildings can make a vivid and appropriate ‘place’ and a space for contemporary art.

Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray
Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray

The gallery opens its walled garden to the city, providing a garden for art & sculpture, including a children’s garden a sensory garden and an exposition of the archaeology on the site. The Butler Gallery has been nominated for the 2022 edition of the EU Mies van der Rohe Award.


Butler Gallery
© Brendan Merry and Partners
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh


Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ste Murray
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh
Butler Gallery
Butler Gallery
© Ros Kavanagh


Butler Gallery
Section
Butler Gallery
Section


Butler Gallery
Elevation
Butler Gallery
Elevation


Butler Gallery
Axonometry
Butler Gallery
Roof Plan


Butler Gallery
Ground Floor Plan
Butler Gallery
First Floor Plan


Butler Gallery

McCullough Mulvin Architects
T +353 1 7079555
McCullough Mulvin Architects
16 Molesworth St, Dublin, D02 YF58, Ireland