October 8th, 1958:The 1950s was a grim decade in Ireland, with economic stagnation, high emigration and a general sense of isolation, as this article by Caroline Mitchell about the first purpose-built flats in Dublin city that were not social housing.
IN SPITE of decreased money values and a general social reshuffle, life still goes on, and I dont see why it should be reduced to terms of mere existence on a makeshift level, with backward glances to “the good old days”. In other words, gracious living is possible today, so long as you accept the new idiom of elegance, and adapt yourself to the march of time.
The flat-habit is one of the new trends. It is all tied up with the long-term development of electricity, and this is a most interesting study in co-operation. Urban electrification is something a good deal longer established than its rural sister, and there is virtually no building in any city in Ireland where electricity cannot be laid on. This brings us to the ESB policy of encouraging landlords and flat converters to develop the potential of electricity in the most up-to-date and economic way.
Such things as first-class cooking facilities, heating systems and water-heating are top priorities in the scheme of gracious living in this decade. They have to be, now that we are all our own cooks, kitchen-maids and general slavies. We turn over to the flat-habit in order to preserve our shreds of elegance.
Yes, I know I wrote a diatribe some time ago on the dreadful places offered as flats in Dublin. No doubt, such horrors are still on the market, but with these I am not concerned at the moment.
Cherry House, the 10th and newest block to rise up in the Mespil Flats, Sussex Road, Dublin, is a seven-floor building aglow with ideas in labour-saving, comfort, and individual décor possibilities. You should take a trip up there and see for yourself, because, until October 25th, the 10 flats on the top floor are at your disposal for viewing.
Each one has been furnished by a different Irish firm for the viewing period, so besides studying good flat-planning, you can get a general picture of furnishing trends. By the way, Irish Estates, who are responsible for the pioneer modern flat-building project in Sussex Road, have reserved one of the new show-flats to show the type of furniture they provide for a yearly rental of £25, should you not have any of your own.
The pieces available for this rental consist of a dining-table, two dining chairs, two easy-chairs, a sideboard, a divan with cover or a bed-settee, a single wardrobe or a large rug, a bookcase, a kitchen chair, Venetian blinds and curtains. So you see, the basic requirements are fulfilled, with the tenant providing linen, cutlery, silver and china and bedding. Cherry House, a steel-reinforced building, has over 50 one-roomed flats. Let’s get this straight. Some call them flatlets and others refer to them as “bed-sitters”, but I think “one-roomed flat” is better.
Features include a communal laundry with tumble-driers in the basement and a delicious roof garden where they can all sun themselves should the sun ever shine again. There is a balcony on each floor for the use of all tenants, and also a service lift, and the janitor empties the garbage-bin of each flat every morning and returns it – washed.
The central heating, which can be regulated by each flat-owner, is included in the rent, and if your fuses blow, you simply press a button in a little box in your own hall and a connection is remade automatically. Each flat has its separate hot-water heater, and the building also has an aerial for radio, TV and VHF, so that all you have to do is to plug in your sets.
Irish Estates are looking ahead, too, because the aerial includes provision for Irish television!