{{Short description|Library in Dún Laoghaire, south-Dublin, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2018}} thumb|The north and east façade of DLR Lexicon, viewed from the East Pier. {{coord|53.2930|N|6.1321|W|type:landmark_region:IE-D|display=title|notes=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/using-your-library/find-your-library/dlr-lexicon |title=dlr LexIcon |work=dlr Libraries |publisher=DLR CC |access-date=8 November 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108145906/http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/using-your-library/find-your-library/dlr-lexicon |url-status=live}}</ref>}} '''DLR Lexicon''', branded as '''dlr LexIcon''', is a building in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, housing the main public library and cultural centre of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council (DLR CC). Whilst initially attracting controversy during construction, with some commentators concerned with its scale and its €36.6m cost at a time of austerity in Ireland, though with many recognising the potential of its interior, usability, and environmentally responsible construction,<ref name="it1865009"/><ref name="it1992936">{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/frank-mcdonald-why-i-love-d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-library-1.1992936 |title=Why I love Dún Laoghaire library|last=McDonald|first=Frank |date=8 November 2014|work=The Irish Times |access-date=8 November 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108151123/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/frank-mcdonald-why-i-love-d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-library-1.1992936|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="j1576214"/> the innovative design has in large part contributed to it becoming the most popular library in all of Ireland.
==Construction== The 2004-10 DLR CC development plan included a new library and cultural centre as part of its urban regeneration scheme.<ref name="Murphy2014"/> It stated:<ref>{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Chapter 8 — Community |url=http://www.dlrcoco.ie/planning/DevPlan04/Chapter8.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050217051718/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/planning/DevPlan04/Chapter8.pdf#page=4 |archivedate=17 February 2005 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |work=County Development Plan |publisher=DLR CC |page=110, § 8.4.1 |format=PDF}}</ref> :The need for specialised and centralised services in a Europe of the Regions setting will be promoted through the development of a Europe of the Regions Centre of Literature and Culture, which will be both a local and European focal point for literature, culture, and related co-operative activity.
The site chosen was Moran Park, a partially derelict public park with bowling green, running perpendicular to the coastline down an escarpment.<ref name="Murphy2014"/><ref name="it1865009"/> The site was chosen because it was already owned by DLR CC and would link The Metals (Queens Road) on the busy seafront to the north with George's Street, Dún Laoghaire's main shopping street, to the south.<ref name="it1992936"/><ref name="Murphy2014"/><ref name="it1865009">{{cite news |last=Flaherty |first=Rachel |date=14 July 2014 |title=Dún Laoghaire council architect ‘surprised’ at criticism of new library |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-council-architect-surprised-at-criticism-of-new-library-1.1865009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108152301/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-council-architect-surprised-at-criticism-of-new-library-1.1865009 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |access-date=8 November 2014 |work=The Irish Times}}</ref> Carr Cotter & Naessens, with a design by David Naessens, won the architecture competition in November 2007.<ref name="it1865009"/> In May 2009 DLR CC launched the public consultation required under Part 8 of the Planning & Development Regulations;<ref>{{cite web |date=25 May 2009 |title=Minutes of the Dún Laoghaire Housing, Water & Waste, Economic Development & Community and Environment & Culture Area Committee Meeting |url=http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2009/dlhwwedcec/May09.htm |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108200448/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2009/dlhwwedcec/May09.htm |archivedate=8 November 2014 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |publisher=DLR CC |pages=DLWEHE/244/09}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Part 8 Schemes |url=http://www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/councildepartments/planning/part8schemes/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108192204/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/aboutus/councildepartments/planning/part8schemes/ |archive-date=8 November 2014 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |publisher=DLR CC}}</ref> a special development review meeting in November 2009 approved the plan by 22 votes to 3, rejecting Richard Boyd Barrett's proposal to locate the library on Carlisle Pier.<ref>{{cite web |title=Page 242 17.6 SLO 18 - Moran Park Library |url=http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2009/CountyCouncil/Nov18_09_Devplan.pdf#page=159 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108193646/http://www.dlrcoco.ie/Meetings/2009/CountyCouncil/Nov18_09_Devplan.pdf |archivedate=8 November 2014 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |work=Minutes of Special Meeting of County Council held in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin on Wednesday 18th November 2009 4.00 pm |publisher=DLR CC |pages=159–161}}</ref><ref name="it1865009"/> Sisk Group won the request for tender and began construction in April 2012.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 March 2012 |title=Construction Approved: Dun Laoghaire County Library, Arts, Culture and Community Complex |url=http://www.riai.ie/news/article/construction_approved_dun_laoghaire_county_library_arts_culture_and_communi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108191846/http://www.riai.ie/news/article/construction_approved_dun_laoghaire_county_library_arts_culture_and_communi |archive-date=8 November 2014 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |work=News |publisher=Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland}}</ref><ref name="it1865009"/><ref name="Murphy2014"/> Thirteen 40-tonne concrete rafters constructed in County Offaly were each brought on site in a single night.<ref name="Murphy2014">{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Marcella |date=1 September 2014 |title=Dún Laoghaire’s new Central Library – the DLR Lexicon |url=http://www.engineersjournal.ie/dun-laoghaire/ |accessdate=8 November 2014 |work=The Engineers Journal |publisher=Engineers Ireland}}</ref> The building was opened to the public for preview on Culture Night (19 September 2014) and Open House Dublin (19 October 2014<ref>{{cite web |year=2014 |title=dlr LexIcon |url=http://openhousedublin.com/index.php/tour/dun-laoghaire-central-library-cultural-centre |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108153842/http://openhousedublin.com/index.php/tour/dun-laoghaire-central-library-cultural-centre |archive-date=8 November 2014 |accessdate=8 November 2014 |work=Open House Dublin}}</ref>) and opened for general use on 8 December 2014.<ref name="it1992936"/> The building won the 2014 Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland award categories Best Culture and Best Public Building.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cullinan |first=Emma |date=19 June 2015 |title=Dún Laoghaire library recognised at architecture awards |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-library-recognised-at-architecture-awards-1.2254939 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720201141/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/d%C3%BAn-laoghaire-library-recognised-at-architecture-awards-1.2254939 |archive-date=20 July 2015 |access-date=19 June 2015 |work=The Irish Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=18 June 2015 |title=The Winners of the 2015 Irish Architecture Awards |url=http://www.riai.ie/news/article/the_winners_of_the_2015_irish_architecture_awards1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620031001/http://www.riai.ie/news/article/the_winners_of_the_2015_irish_architecture_awards1 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |accessdate=19 June 2015 |work=News |publisher=Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland}}</ref>
==Facilities== DLR Lexicon is structured in vertical layers, from a staff basement to a peak 29 metres above street level.<ref name="it1992936"/><ref name="it1865009"/> It includes adult, children's, and audiovisual lending libraries with 24-hour automated teller machines for returns; general and local history reference libraries; archives, and library administration offices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/inside-dlr-lexicon|title=Inside dlr LexIcon|last=O'Shea|first=Rick|date=7 October 2014|work=dlr Libraries blog|accessdate=11 November 2014|archive-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111200128/http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/events-and-news/library-blog/inside-dlr-lexicon|url-status=live}}</ref> There are large open spaces, smaller reading rooms, meeting rooms, an art gallery and workshop, and a performance space and auditorium.<ref name="Murphy2014"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2015/02/12/dlr-lexicon-building-an-icon/|title=DLR Lexicon – Building an Icon|date=12 February 2015|work=Irish Building |accessdate=19 June 2015|archive-date=20 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620022805/http://www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2015/02/12/dlr-lexicon-building-an-icon/|url-status=live}}</ref> A Brambles Café concession on the lower level opens onto a terrace in Moran Park.<ref name="it1992936"/><ref name="j1576214">{{cite news |url=http://www.thejournal.ie/dun-laoghaire-rathdown-library-1576214-Jul2014/ |title=This could be Ireland’s library of the future – but why the controversy? |last=Barry |first=Aoife |date=19 July 2014 |work=TheJournal.ie |access-date=11 November 2014 |archive-date=11 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111202849/http://www.thejournal.ie/dun-laoghaire-rathdown-library-1576214-Jul2014/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://events.dlrcoco.ie/attraction/dlr-lexicon-library |title=DLR LexIcon Library |work=dlr Events |publisher=DLR CC |quote=Brambles Café is situated on the Moran Park Level 1.|accessdate=19 June 2015 |archive-date=20 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620022851/http://events.dlrcoco.ie/attraction/dlr-lexicon-library |url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== *List of tourist attractions in Ireland
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category|DLR Lexicon}} * [http://libraries.dlrcoco.ie/using-your-library/find-your-library/dlr-lexicon dlr LexIcon] DLR CC Libraries website * [http://www.ccnarchitects.net/dlr-lexicon/ DLR LexIcon] Carr Cotter Naessens Architects website
Category:Dún Laoghaire Category:Buildings and structures in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown Category:Library buildings completed in 2014 Category:2014 establishments in Ireland Category:21st-century architecture in the Republic of Ireland