Sam Stephenson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Stephenson
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| Born | 15 December 1933 |
| Died | 9 November 2006 (aged 72) |
| Alma mater | Dublin Institute of Technology |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) |
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| Children |
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| Parent(s) | Patrick Joseph Stephenson |
| Relatives | Desmond Stephenson (brother) |
Sam Stephenson (born December 15, 1933 – died November 9, 2006) was an Irish architect. He studied architecture at the Bolton Street School, which is now called Technological University Dublin. Many of the buildings he designed caused a lot of discussion when they were built.
Life and family
Samuel Francis "Sam" Stephenson was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 15, 1933. He was the youngest of five sons. His father, Paddy Joe Stephenson, was the Chief Librarian of Dublin. His mother was Mary (Mamie) Kilmartin.
Sam Stephenson married Bernadette Flood first. They had two daughters, Karen and Bronwyn, and two sons, Mark and Sam. Later, he married Caroline Sweetman. They had two more sons, Sebastian and Zachary. Sam Stephenson passed away suddenly on November 9, 2006.
Career as an architect
Sam Stephenson worked for a long time with Arthur Gibney. Their company was called Stephenson Gibney and Associates. Most of Stephenson's most famous buildings are in Dublin. They are good examples of a style called Brutalist architecture. This style uses lots of concrete and has a strong, blocky look.
Many of his buildings were built where older Georgian and Victorian buildings used to stand. Sometimes, these older buildings were torn down to make space. This often led to big disagreements. For example, when some old houses collapsed in 1963, Stephenson said they were not meant to last forever.
When he was chosen to design the new Central Bank of Ireland in 1965, it was partly because he was not afraid to stand up to people who wanted to keep old buildings. This happened during the building of the ESB Headquarters on Fitzwilliam Street.
His design for the Dublin Civic Offices also caused a lot of debate. This was because an ancient site called Wood Quay had to be dug up for the building. This site held important remains from Viking Dublin. After this, Stephenson started doing more of his work in London.
By the late 1980s, Stephenson's ideas about architecture had changed. He started to prefer less harsh, modern designs. He once said he used to love modern architecture, but then he changed his mind completely.
Famous buildings
Here are some of the well-known buildings Sam Stephenson designed:
- Hotel Number 31, Leeson Close (1960)
- Central Bank of Ireland, Dame Street (1975) - This building was built taller than allowed by the original plans. This issue was later fixed.
- ESB Headquarters at Fitzwilliam Street (1965, torn down in 2017) - A group of Georgian houses was removed to build this. This changed the look of the "Georgian Mile" in Dublin.
- Dublin Corporation Offices at Wood Quay - Phase 1 (1976) - Old Viking remains were found here during construction. Even with protests to save the site, the building went ahead. These buildings are sometimes called "The Bunkers" because of their strong, plain look.
- Currency Centre, Sandyford (1979)
- Bord na Móna building, Baggot Street
Awards
- RIAI Gold Medal (1985)
