Other denominations
Water Tower (University College Dublin)
Original use
Transportation and infrastructure/water tower
Current use
Transportation and infrastructure/water tower
Architects
A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects (Andrzei Wejchert)
Others
John Paul Construction
Concrete by reinforcement
Concrete is a relatively brittle material that is strong in compression but less so in tension.
To increase its overall strength, steel rods, wires, mesh or cables may be embedded in concrete before it sets. This reinforcement, often known as rebar, resists tensile forces. By forming a strong bond, the two materials are able to resist a variety of applied forces, effectively acting as a single structural element .
Construction method
In this case, the concrete can be made by mixing the components directly on site, or it may be transported from a production plant in concrete-mixer trucks.
This method has the disadvantage of leaving the concrete exposed to the elements while it is setting. Whereas, with other methods, the environmental conditions can be controlled during setting, providing greater control over the outcome, with cast-in-place concrete a series of tests and protocols are necessary to verify its final strength.
Architectural concrete
- textured walls
- wooden formwork finish
- stamped concrete
- exposed aggregate concrete, colored concrete, etc.
Structural types
This element is characteristic of many industrial buildings from 1900 to 1950 in which large, flared support structures extend into disc-like capitals.
State of Conservation
Description
This raised water tower, which was built in just seven days, supplies water and provides constant water pressure for the University College campus in Dublin. In addition to its functional role, it is also one of the most emblematic buildings on the campus and a characteristic element of the Dublin skyline.
University College is one of the most important historical academic institutions in Ireland. By 1940, when it had become the third-largest university in the country, moving to a new campus was a clear necessity because there was no more room for expansion at the historic location in the center of the city. It was not until the 1960s that the definitive location was chosen in Belfield, south of Dublin. The water tower, like most of the campus, was designed by A&D Wejchert & Partners Architects, and it was built in 1972. In 1979, it received the first ever Irish Concrete Society Award.
The iconic image of the tower originated in strict geometry: a dodecahedron contains the tank, and the five lower sides are extended until they align perfectly with the pentagonal shape of the narrow support. Vertical grooves emphasize this geometry and serve as the only decoration on the tower, built entirely of exposed concrete.
Ireland
Wynnsward drive (UCD Dublin)
D04 P9C4 Dublin
Commission
1979
Completion
1979