Designing Donnybrook: Conceiving Ireland’s ‘Architecture of Containment’ - Chapter 5 - Introduction

Oct 28, 2026

Chapter 5 examines how Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries can be understood through architectural design, built form, and spatial experience rather than only through conventional archival records. It frames architecture as non-arbitrary evidence shaped by client intentions, constraints, compromises, and long-term physical change. The chapter also argues that buildings carry personal and cultural meanings and can communicate functions to observers. It then discusses why architectural remains are especially valuable when traditional sources remain inaccessible.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages33

Reading Time1 h 23 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

The Evidential Qualities of Architecture

Sources

Designing Donnybrook: conceiving Ireland's 'architecture of containment' Hamill, C. (2023) . Designing Donnybrook: conceiving Ireland's 'architecture of containment'. In M. Coen, K. O'Donnell, & M. O'Rourke (Eds.), A Dublin Magdalene laundry: Donnybrook and church–state power in Ireland (pp. 129-150) . Bloomsbury Academic. [https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350279087.ch-005](https://doi.org/10.5040/9781350279087.ch-005) Published in: A Dublin Magdalene laundry: Donnybrook and church–state power in Ireland Document Version: Peer reviewed version Queen's University Belfast-Research Portal: Link to publication record in Queen's University Belfast Research Portal Publisher rights Copyright 2023 Bloomsbury Publishing. This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher. General rights Copyright for the publications made accessible via the Queen's University Belfast Research Portal is retained by the author(s) and / or other copyright owners and it is a condition of accessing these publications that users recognise and abide by the legal requirements associated with these rights. Take down policy The Research Portal is Queen's institutional repository that provides access to Queen's research output. Every effort has been made to ensure that content in the Research Portal does not infringe any person's rights, or applicable UK laws. If you discover content in the Research Portal that you believe breaches copyright or violates any law, [please contact openaccess@qub.ac.uk](please contact openaccess@qub.ac.uk). Open Access This research has been made openly available by Queen's academics and its Open Research team. We would love to hear how access to this research benefits you.– Share your feedback with us: [http://go.qub.ac.uk/oa-feedback](http://go.qub.ac.uk/oa-feedback) Download date:28 . Oct. 2026 Chapter 5: Designing Donnybrook: Conceiving Ireland’s ‘Architecture of Containment’ Chris Hamill Introduction In his 2007 ‘partial history’ of Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries, James Smith coins the term, ‘the nation’s architecture of containment’ to refer to the network that connected and supported Ireland’s Magdalene laundries together with other carceral institutions across the island. 1 But the use of the word ‘architecture’ also begs the question, what of the buildings themselves? To date, little has been written of the design and architectural features, nor of the experiential qualities of space within Ireland’s Magdalene Laundries (with the notable exception of O’Mahoney et al.2 on the former Magdalene Laundry at Waterford) . Yet the study of buildings and architectural history can provide a valuable insight into the cultural attitudes and social priorities of the past, and it is evident that the physical fabric of buildings themselves can act as invaluable historic artefacts.3 The Evidential Qualities of Architecture Architecture is never arbitrary. Buildings are commissioned by a client to serve particular purposes and are designed to meet these requirements and deal adequately with the constraints of site, structure, budget, and taste. Therefore, the various iterations of design drawings and the eventual built reality represents a transcript of conversations, disagreements and compromises, which can be read, either alone or in combination with other historic sources. Construction projects also tend to represent large investments of time, effort and money, with design decisions often carefully considered and indicative of not just the individual client’s priorities, but broader institutional and societal attitudes.4 This evidential quality of architecture, which results from the intentionality ofits design, is one of the core concepts of architectural history.5 It is also important to remember that buildings are rarely static objects, and evolve and are changed throughout their (sometimes lengthy) li

FAQs

Why does the chapter focus on architecture instead of only traditional historical records?

Because many conventional sources remain in private archives of the religious orders, which have become unwilling to provide researchers access. Architectural remains therefore become crucial historic evidence.

What does the chapter claim makes architecture an evidential source?

Buildings are designed intentionally to meet client purposes and site, structural, budget, and taste constraints. Design drawings and later physical changes record conversations, compromises, and institutional or societal priorities over time.

How can buildings convey meaning beyond design decisions and memory?

The chapter argues that architecture can communicate functions and uses to outside viewers, shaping how observers interpret what the buildings are for, not merely what they were originally intended to store.

Oct 28, 2026

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