'Re-aiguillage'

'Re-Aiguillage' explores the evolving relationship between heritage and industry at the border town of Clones, County Monaghan, straddling Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Alpha Tanks, a metal tank manufacturing factory established in 2004, operates within 60,000 square feet of factory space on the former site of Clones’ iconic train station. Inaugurated in 1858, the train station was once pivotal to Clones’ economic and social life, catalyzing industries such as linen lace weaving and providing jobs for engineers, train drivers, and switchmen. After its closure in 1957, parts of the station were demolished, much to the sorrow of locals like Patty, a current Alpha Tanks worker who reflects, “It is a shame; she was a beauty.” Over the past 15 years, Alpha Tanks has reshaped the site, weaving corrugated metal and concrete structures around remnants of the old station. This interplay of decay and utility gives rise to a space where past and present coexist. At the heart of this juxtaposition is the semi-circular building housing a rare railway engine turntable—one of only five in Ireland—featuring the elegant yet overlooked Belfast truss. This structural element anchors the intervention: an Alternative Metal Fabrication School. Metal fabrication, a craft governed by universal techniques, produces structures that transcend borders, with Alpha Tanks exporting across Europe. The school reimagines these techniques through the lens of reuse and adaptation, emphasizing fabrication for multiple lifecycles. The site-specific curriculum begins with the deconstruction and recycling of metal structures, fostering an approach to design that prioritizes longevity and reinvention. In addition to the school, the project introduces a new space for Alpha Tanks’ administrative offices. Relocated from their current prefabricated container, the administration team will occupy a threshold space between the factory’s production grounds and the fabrication school, reflecting a seamless integration of industry, learning, and heritage.