THE Office of Public Works has been awarded the Europa Nostra medal for its faithful restoration of the long neglected curvilinear range of glass houses at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. It is the first time Ireland has won the medal since 1984.
In its citation, the international judging panel praised the OPW for its 44 excellent and faithful restoration of one of the most important surviving 19th century glasshouses in Europe", adding that it had developed new techniques for restoring wrought and cast iron.
What distinguished the Glasnevin project from other restorations of glasshouses designed and built by Richard Turner in Belfast and in London's Kew Gardens was that most of the 10 kilometres of wrought iron was reused rather than replaced with aluminium or stainless steel.
Europa Nostra, a federation of conservation bodies in more than 20 European countries, also awarded a diploma to the OPW for its pyramid like visitor centre at the Ceide Fields, on the north Mayo coast. It is the seventh award won by this challenging and imaginative building.
The awards scheme was inaugurated in 1978 to recognise projects, which make a distinguished contribution to conserving Europe's architectural heritage.
The OPW previously won a medal for the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham as well as diplomas for the Custom House and the Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle. The latest medal and diploma will be presented by Europa Nostra's president, Prince Henrik of Denmark, in Madrid on April 4th.
