The project is a low energy Civic Office Headquarters and Public Library for Westmeath County Council, located in the centre of Mullingar town on an historic site incorporating and renovating several protected structures and building carefully over archaeological remains. The design solution is an open, transparent public facility carefully woven into its historic urban context, creating an ensemble of new & old buildings, bringing new energy and civic values to the site. The building is a civic place, internally a sculpture of light, created primarily with glass, timber, and concrete, externally an open and transparent expression of local government. The building opens to the complex site remaking the connection to the village of Mullingar.

Photography : Michael Moran

Fig. 1
bridge entrance to public library, main external public staircase

Fig. 2
public atrium and renovated stone buildings

Fig. 3
public atrium, internal facade of public library

Fig. 4
public atrium

Fig. 5
public library interior

Fig. 6
main public atrium looking north

Fig. 7
double facade facing railway line to the south, overlooking new park incorporating archeological remains

Fig. 8
public library reading room overlooking public park

Fig. 9
public library main help desk

Fig. 10
terrace for staff cafe

Fig. 11
south facade of renovated civic offices with atrium structure visible to right

Fig. 12
pedestrian entrance to civic offices with atrium structure

Fig. 13
entrance facade and renovated governor’s house

fig. 14

entrance facade and renovated governor’s house

fig. 15

library entrance viewed from bridge