Deirdre Frost Blueprint for Change (the municipal housing of Cork City Architect Eamon O’Byrne)

During the Memory of Place project artist Deirdre Frost and older people from Cork City Partnership Knocknaheeny undertook visits to the Glucksman and Cork Public Museum as well as welcoming academics and curators for talks in the community. University College Cork academic Denis Linehan presented his research on Cork city architect Eamon O’Byrne and his contribution to public housing in the city between 1948 and 1973. Many of the group live or had lived in one of O’Byrne’s houses and the architects ambitions for the northside of the city and his unique designs prompted a lively discussion. 

In Blueprint for Change, Deirdre Frost presents some of O’Byrne’s designs in various stages of completion. Architectural maquettes are strewn across a large table where one can imagine O’Byrne grabbling with the challenges of ensuring his designs remained innovative within a complex post-war context.