€5 off first Book Purchase of €50+ | With Code: CHAPTERSBOOKSTORE
Few modern buildings in Dublin capture the imagination like the US Embassy. Designed in the 1950s by a young American architect, John M. Johansen, it opened to acclaim in May of 1964. For decades after its opening the building has been a symbol of modernity and advancement, a representation of the promise of America.
It was one of the last avant-garde results from a strategic building programme the US government undertook during the Cold War. In commissioning leading architects to design decidedly modern, open, welcoming buildings, America exported its vision of open and free democracy to the rest of the world.
The story behind the building is fascinating. It faced stiff critical and political opposition during the design process, a deadlock that was eventually broken by the personal intervention of President John F. Kennedy. The building used cutting-edge concrete technology where its 1,600 components were flat packed on a barge and shipped to Dublin. It was American design, fabricated in part in Holland, and assembled in Ireland.
This book tells the story of the figures behind this unique building and the ideas it espoused. It features newly released archive photography of the building’s construction, original hand drawings by the architect and newly commissioned illustrations of the building. The book features an absorbing foreword by acclaimed author Shane O’Toole, on his personal remembrances of John M. Johansen.
A series of vignettes dispersed throughout the book attempt to capture moments of time, various characters encountering the building: the architect, the US President, the Irish President, a Dutch fabricator, a construction worker. This promotes the idea that the life and experience of a civic building is not centred on any one individual, but rather a constellation of interactions over time, it is a character in all our lives.
It was one of the last avant-garde results from a strategic building programme the US government undertook during the Cold War. In commissioning leading architects to design decidedly modern, open, welcoming buildings, America exported its vision of open and free democracy to the rest of the world.
The story behind the building is fascinating. It faced stiff critical and political opposition during the design process, a deadlock that was eventually broken by the personal intervention of President John F. Kennedy. The building used cutting-edge concrete technology where its 1,600 components were flat packed on a barge and shipped to Dublin. It was American design, fabricated in part in Holland, and assembled in Ireland.
This book tells the story of the figures behind this unique building and the ideas it espoused. It features newly released archive photography of the building’s construction, original hand drawings by the architect and newly commissioned illustrations of the building. The book features an absorbing foreword by acclaimed author Shane O’Toole, on his personal remembrances of John M. Johansen.
A series of vignettes dispersed throughout the book attempt to capture moments of time, various characters encountering the building: the architect, the US President, the Irish President, a Dutch fabricator, a construction worker. This promotes the idea that the life and experience of a civic building is not centred on any one individual, but rather a constellation of interactions over time, it is a character in all our lives.
- ISBN: 9781999830939
- Author:Murray, Cormac
If you are not satisfied with your order in any way, get in touch. We have an excellent customer service record and we will do our best to ensure you are pleased with your purchase.
We are happy to refund a product if it is defective, within 30 days of purchase upon the return of your product. If you return a product to us and request a refund due to an error on our part we will be happy to pay for the postage cost to return it to us.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused & unread, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
Please note, if you are requesting a refund based on an issue with condition we kindly ask you to provide a photo in order for us to best advise a suitable resolution.
To start a return, you can contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com. If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return question at shop@chaptersbookstore.com.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like custom products or special orders. Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.
Exchanges
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
Free Delivery in the Republic Of Ireland on all orders over €30. Standard Delivery Charge in Republic of Ireland of €5 for all orders below €30.
Delivery is subject to warehouse availability. Out-of-stock items will be shipped as soon as possible, upon arrival from the manufacturer/publisher. Please take shipping time into consideration.
