Standing tall on the corner of Townsend Street and Mark’s Lane, you are looking at Countess Markievicz House. It’s a beautiful example of Irish architecture from the 1930s. This apartment building was the brainchild of Herbert George Simms. He was the City Housing Architect at the time and a real champion of providing social housing. He designed this complex between 1934 and 1936. You might not guess it, but he was responsible for over 17,000 homes in Dublin!
The complex is named after Countess Constance Markievicz, a famous Irish revolutionary and the first woman elected to the British Parliament. She was a real force to be reckoned with. You can imagine her looking out over the city, urging on the independence movement.
The building is a striking U-shaped structure with a detached block nearby. The outside is a blend of red and yellow bricks. The red one is used to highlight details of the building, especially the curved corners. It was a clever move to use these different coloured bricks as it adds character to the complex. The design is very influenced by contemporary Dutch and British housing schemes. But the height of the building is in keeping with the streetscape.
Simms made great use of simple materials. The alternating brick bands, overhanging eaves, and canopies give the whole thing a horizontal emphasis. You can see how this layout works well in a busy city like Dublin. And that’s not all. As a special touch Simms included a little reminder of Irish history. It’s right there, on the building, just a subtle hint. It’s in the lettering of the building name and it was done to remind people of the new nation, Ireland, in its post-independence period.
Take a moment to look at the shopfronts along the street. They are an integral feature of the design. They were cleverly integrated to make the whole design feel fresh and modern. These are the kinds of details that keep Simms’s legacy alive, even today.