A free peek into some architecturally amazing buildings

The public gets another chance to view buildings of all types and periods free of charge when Open House Dublin 2016 takes place from October 14th-16th. The event, now in its 11th year, is organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation.

Among the highlights of this year’s programme is Airbnb’s headquarters at Hanover Quay in the south docklands. This once derelict waterside warehouse has been renovated by RKD Architects and transformed to accommodate the fast-growing company.

Also on view will be Facebook's International Headquarters at Grand Canal Quay, designed by international architects Frank Gehry and Daniel Libeskind.

There should also be keen interest in the Military Archives at Cathal Brugha Barracks. It was renovated as part of Ireland 2016 by McCullough Mulvin Architects and now houses significant documents pertaining to the Easter Rising.

Baths and beyond

Open House will feature a visit to the long-derelict Dún Laoghaire Baths site. Its refurbishment, set to begin in 2017 and completed in 2018, has been designed by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's architects department working with A2 Architects.

The planned scheme includes the development of the public realm with amenities such as an art gallery, artists’ studios and cafe.

The theme of this year’s Open House is “The Presence of the Past”, an effort to reveal how the development of the cityscape conveys the changing social, political and cultural priorities of Dublin. This will involve an exploration of how architecture – domestic, civic, commercial and public – frames and structures the patterns and practices of our collective life.

Nathalie Weadick, director of the Irish Architectural Foundation, says this year's programme aims to connect time to buildings and uncover how they reflect our priorities culturally, socially, economically and politically.

“Buildings, as designed structures, are signifiers of evolution and revolution,” she says.

The Open House Dublin 2016 programme will be available from September 9th at architecturefoundation.ie/openhousedublin.