The Georgian Doors of Dublin

The Georgian Doors of Dublin can be traced back to the 1700s, when the old medieval city began growing and becoming quite prosperous. Rapid expansion led to remodeling of the city’s streets and squares, and a need to develop outside the city center — especially to create residential areas.

This building boom was carefully controlled however, and each developer was given strict structural and design restrictions for their buildings. The resulting style (and time period) has come to be known as Georgian Dublin — named for the four kings that ruled during the period (Kings George I-IV; 1714-1830).

To break from the strict architectural uniformity, residents started adding their own individual touches to set their houses apart from others. These included fancy knockers, intricate designs or fanlights above the door, and most noticeably, front doors painted in varying colors.

You can see these vibrant, historical displays of architecture throughout the city, but the best examples can be seen in areas such as Leeson Street, where I stayed while in Dublin. As a history lover and someone who just likes pretty colors (it’s the simple things in life, really) seeing these doors was an added bonus to our walks through the city.

Sources (also recommended for further reading on Georgian Dublin and Architecture): Visit Dublin, Irish Culture and Customs, and CIEE