Belfast Bar Library
Bar Library Photos
About Bar Library
In the Legal Quarter of Belfast is the new Bar Library building. It was officially opened on the 21st November 2003 by Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney and Professor Luzius Wildhaber, president of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
Built by Gilbert Ash and designed by Belfast-based architects Robinson McIlwaine, this building is said to represent an abstract form of the Royal Courts building next door. In fact, it’s noteworthy design also claimed the first prize in the Civic Trust Northern Ireland Public Realm Special Awards in 2004. Unusually though, is that the southern end of the building is quite modest and was built using much cheaper materials.
One of the main features here are these bronze panels at the main entrance. They were designed by Carolyn Mulholland. Seamus Heaney also consulted Carolyn on the project. During his opening speech he said that: “The images on the door are memorable, bold and archetypal”.
The images and words under each one are no coincidence either. The words “To every cow its calf, to every book its copy”, are significant with the original Irish copyright law. Not content with just quoting local sources an Icelandic idiom was also used. Therefore, it’s within this historic element that these door panels were executed with deliberate care and attention and meant to carry forward those same ancient principles of law to the modern age.
In the foyer the spacious reception area is set against a background of an abundance of Portland blue stone. This stone was specifically chosen for it’s unusual characteristics and further identified the building as being one of a kind. Stone specialists S McConnell & Sons were even drafted in to cut the stone to bespoke designs, which can be noticed in particular around set pieces of art work.
John Kindness was responsible for this art work entitled ‘The History of the Wig’ and depicts the evolution of wigs in six colourful illustrations.
Finally, in the corner next to the entrance is the library’s largest piece of art. This abstract feature panel in Portland Roach was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man. The cut-out spaces represent ancient Celtic forms for males and females.
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