Access

Everyone is welcome at the Irish Architectural Archive. Access is free.

If you have any questions about accessibility, or require any accommodations to support your visit, please e-mail info@iarc.ie or phone +353 1 663 3040.

 

The Reading Room

The Reading Room is open to the public from 10am to 5pm, Tuesdays to Fridays.

On Mondays, the Reading Room is open by appointment only. Please e-mail info@iarc.ie or phone +353 1 663 3040 to make a booking.

Readers are required to register to access material. To register as a reader you must be 18 years old or older. Younger researchers must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, teacher or primary carer. Readers may register in the Reading Room or through the online registration form. If you have registered previously but have forgotten your reader number, e-mail info@iarc.ie.

The IAA Catalogue may be consulted online, and prior to any visit, you should read the Rules and Regulations governing access and use of material held by the Archive.

A member of staff is always present in the Reading Room to assist readers and provide direction in identifying relevant material. Staff are also available to provide visual descriptions (for Blind or low vision Readers) for any material, on request.

 

Exhibitions

The Architecture Gallery and first floor exhibition rooms are open from 10am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays. Check the Exhibitions page to see what is on.

 

Our building

No. 45 Merrion Square stands close to the centre of the east side of the Square. An internal lift to the rear of the building provides access to every floor.

 

Getting here

Car: There is metered parking on Merrion Square. The closest on-street disabled parking spot is directly opposite the building. One disabled parking spot  is also available to the rear of the building. Please e-mail info@iarc.ie or phone +353 1 663 3040 to enquire about using this space.

Public Transport: The closest bus stops are Stops #409 and #493 (Holles Street/Merrion Square), and Stops #750 and #784 (Baggot Street). The nearest Luas stop is St Stephens Green and the nearest Dart stations are Pearse Street and Grand Canal Dock.

 

Arriving at the IAA

The front door is reached by 3 stone steps from the pavement to a landing, and then 1 further step at the front door. Beyond the front door is a lobby with glass door boundaries. From here you can gain access by ringing the intercom bell marked IAA, which is reached at a height of c. 150cm.

If you are a wheelchair user, or find steps problematic, we recommend entering the Archive building from Stephen’s Place, which runs parallel to the rear of Merrion Square East, and is reached from Mount Street Upper or Lower. When you arrive at the IAA back gate, call the Archive at +353 1 663 3040 and the gate will be opened for you. You can enter the building directly from the car park through the back door.

It is recommended that you e-mail info@iarc.ie or phone +353 1 663 3040 in advance to let us know if you’d like to use the back entrance or disabled parking space, so we can be available to open the gates when you arrive.

 

Moving around our building

Wheelchair users and those with mobility issues have full access throughout the IAA building via our internal lift to the back of the building. Please note that access to the first-floor reception rooms from the lift is via a doorway that is wide enough for standard wheelchairs only (800mm width).

The Architecture Gallery is a quiet and calm space, with low-level lighting. Large format printouts of exhibition labels are available in the Architecture Gallery. Footstools are available on request to improve sightlines for vitrines and display cases.

 

Toilet facilities

Accessible toilet cubicles are situated within both the Male and Female toilets in the basement, which can be reached by stairs or lift. Trans and non-binary visitors are welcome to use the facilities that make them feel safest.