Military Architecture and Brick Manufacture

The establishment of a traditional Brick Manufacture is not only of significance for McKee Barracks and military architecture but also for traditional brick architecture across Dublin and urban Ireland. While initially responding to the specific monumental red brick buildings of the barracks, the trial-and-error manufacturing processes and brick-making skills that have evolved here represent a profound contribution to the culture of local Irish building conservation. Clay mixing, forming and firing are skilfully done so that the variances in brick shape and colour that characterise many of Dublin’s buildings, are perfected in a live research project. Mass-production of bricks happens alongside hand-moulding of complementary terracotta panels, dressings, finials and more. This workshop and fabrication process is radical and single-handedly revives one of Ireland’s traditional building crafts. It acknowledges the importance of exploiting local materials, while developing these skills for future generations.