Westmeath County Buildings and Public Library, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
       
     
 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
       
     
Westmeath County Buildings and Public Library, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland
       
     
Westmeath County Buildings and Public Library, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland

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

 Fig. 2 public atrium and renovated stone buildings
       
     

Fig. 2
public atrium and renovated stone buildings

 Fig. 3 public atrium, internal facade of public library
       
     

Fig. 3
public atrium, internal facade of public library

 Fig. 4 public atrium
       
     

Fig. 4
public atrium

 Fig. 5 public library interior
       
     

Fig. 5
public library interior

 Fig. 6 main public atrium looking north
       
     

Fig. 6
main public atrium looking north

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

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. 8
public library reading room overlooking public park

 Fig. 9 public library main help desk
       
     

Fig. 9
public library main help desk

 Fig. 10 terrace for staff cafe
       
     

Fig. 10
terrace for staff cafe

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

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. 12
pedestrian entrance to civic offices with atrium structure

 Fig. 13 entrance facade and renovated governor’s house
       
     

Fig. 13
entrance facade and renovated governor’s house

 fig. 14  entrance facade and renovated governor’s house
       
     

fig. 14

entrance facade and renovated governor’s house

 fig. 15  library entrance viewed from bridge
       
     

fig. 15

library entrance viewed from bridge