CORTEN STEEL STRUCTURES IN BALBRIGGAN
WHAT LOCALS REFER TO AS THE RUST BUCKETS ARE ACTUALLY TWO CORTEN STEEL STRUCTURES [BALBRIGGAN HARBOUR 23 JUNE 2026]
I met two local women when I was photographing Balbriggan Harbour and they asked if i was there to photograph the "rust buckets". The structures being referred to are are part of the "Our Balbriggan" rejuvenation programme, a €15 million project aimed at transforming the town’s harbour, Quay Street, and surrounding areas into a premier visitor destination.
The buildings, which locals have colloquially dubbed "The Rust Buckets," are finished in Corten steel (weathering steel). This material was a deliberate design choice by Paul Keogh Architects to reflect the harbour's industrial maritime heritage and seaside vernacular.
Key Details:
Purpose: These structures function as new harbour pavilions designed to accommodate commercial, civic, and kiosk uses. They are intended to generate increased social and commercial activity at the harbour.
Design Intent: The use of Corten steel is intended to create a striking, modern aesthetic that complements the historic coastal environment. The material develops a stable, rust-like appearance over time, which protects the underlying steel from further corrosion—a practical choice for a saltwater environment.
Project Context: These buildings are part of a broader development that also includes the restoration of the former RNLI Boathouse, the creation of new public toilet and "Changing Places" facilities, and extensive public realm works such as new paving and green enhancements along the River Bracken.
Status: The development has been a major focus of Fingal County Council's regeneration efforts, with construction phases progressing through 2025 and into 2026.
Given my interest in industrial heritage and the built environment, I found it especially interesting that the design team specifically chose these materials and massing (pitched roofs) to bridge the gap between Balbriggan's historic harbour structures and the requirements of a modern 21st-century public realm.
I met two local women when I was photographing Balbriggan Harbour and they asked if i was there to photograph the "rust buckets". The structures being referred to are are part of the "Our Balbriggan" rejuvenation programme, a €15 million project aimed at transforming the town’s harbour, Quay Street, and surrounding areas into a premier visitor destination.
The buildings, which locals have colloquially dubbed "The Rust Buckets," are finished in Corten steel (weathering steel). This material was a deliberate design choice by Paul Keogh Architects to reflect the harbour's industrial maritime heritage and seaside vernacular.
Key Details:
Purpose: These structures function as new harbour pavilions designed to accommodate commercial, civic, and kiosk uses. They are intended to generate increased social and commercial activity at the harbour.
Design Intent: The use of Corten steel is intended to create a striking, modern aesthetic that complements the historic coastal environment. The material develops a stable, rust-like appearance over time, which protects the underlying steel from further corrosion—a practical choice for a saltwater environment.
Project Context: These buildings are part of a broader development that also includes the restoration of the former RNLI Boathouse, the creation of new public toilet and "Changing Places" facilities, and extensive public realm works such as new paving and green enhancements along the River Bracken.
Status: The development has been a major focus of Fingal County Council's regeneration efforts, with construction phases progressing through 2025 and into 2026.
Given my interest in industrial heritage and the built environment, I found it especially interesting that the design team specifically chose these materials and massing (pitched roofs) to bridge the gap between Balbriggan's historic harbour structures and the requirements of a modern 21st-century public realm.
THE RUST BUCKETS