Startha Éagsúla/Alternative Histories

Curated by Jantje Engels and Marius Grootveld, in collaboration with the Drawing Matter Trust and the Architecture Foundation, London, Startha Éagsúla/Alternative Histories is a unique international architectural exhibition now on show in the elegant Georgian first floor rooms of the Irish Architectural Archive, 45 Merrion Square.

The original Alternative Histories exhibition comprised 85 models produced by the same number of practices. Following runs in London (Cork Street Galleries March-April 2019), and Brussels (CIVA, September 2019), Alternative Histories has come to Dublin. For its Irish incarnation, the final leg of the exhibition’s tour, the curators have invited nine additional Irish architectural practices to join the original five. Those were Noreile Breen, Clancy Moore, Tom de Paor, Ryan Kennihan, and Taka, while the newcomers are David Leech, Paul Dillon, Steve Larkin, Thomas O’Brien Architects, Elizabeth Hatz, Grafton Architects, Niall McLaughlin, GKMP, and O’Donnell + Tuomey. The Dublin iteration of the exhibition has a definite Irish twist.

The Irish Architectural Archive is grateful for the support provided for this project by the Department of Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht under the Regional Museum Exhibition Scheme 2020.