My thesis explores the architectural transformation of PJ Carroll’s Factory in Dundalk, Ireland, examining it as a case study of architectural translation and adaptive reuse. The study investigates how Irish architects, influenced by international architectural trends, reinterpreted and applied these ideas in the Irish context.
Originally designed by Ronnie Tallon of Scott Tallon Walker in the modernist tradition, the factory exemplifies how architectural concepts travel and evolve across different cultural and historical settings. My research draws upon the idea of translation—not in a linguistic sense, but as a metaphor for the way architectural principles are adapted, recontextualized, and repurposed over time.
An important aspect of this study is the analysis of office space conditions, including factors such as size, light, ventilation, and spatial organization, to understand how modernist design ideals influenced workspace environments. This approach allows me to critically assess the changes in functionality, aesthetics, and user experience throughout the building’s transformation.
Additionally, my research engages with Walter Benjamin’s theories, particularly his ideas on translation and interpretation, to conceptualize how architecture undergoes a process of reinterpretation when repurposed in new contexts. By bridging theoretical perspectives with tangible architectural transformations, this thesis contributes to the broader discourse on adaptive reuse and architectural heritage.
Through this study, I aim to highlight how buildings are not static entities but rather evolving texts that reflect shifting architectural, cultural, and functional narratives over time.