Medieval Museum in Waterford / Waterford City Council Architects

Philip Lauterbach

Architects: Waterford City Council Architects Location: Cathedral Square, Waterford, Ireland Design Team: Waterford City Council Architects Rupert Maddock, Bartosz Rojowski, Agnieszka Rojowska. Currently Bartosz & Agnieszka form ROJOStudio Area: 1500.0 sqm Year: 2013 Photographs: Philip Lauterbach

Structural, Civil Engineer & Psdp: Frank Fox & Associates Consultant Engineers Project Manager: Malone ORegan Consultant Engineers Quantity Surveyors: Nolan Construction Consultants Fire Consultants: ARUP Mep Engineers: WSP Archaeology: Orla Scully and Archer Heritage Sculptor: Stephen Burke Main Contractor: Tom OBrien Construction Ltd Facade Stonework Contractor: S McConnell & Sons Graphics: Bartosz Rojowski (ROJO-Studio) & WCC Main Contract Value Museum & Facilities Building: 4.6M

 Philip Lauterbach

From the architect. Waterford Medieval Museum is a new architectural landmark and major visitor destination in the Southeast of Ireland. The Museum is located in the urban quarter, the oldest part of Waterford City and at its vibrant cultural heart, known as The Viking Triangle. It houses a magnificent collection of artifacts and hosts numerous public events. A diverse range of medieval, 18th, 19th and 20th century buildings constrain the site boundaries to a U-shape with the open end facing directly onto eastern faade of Christ Church Cathedral. The objective was to design a building that would strengthen the characteristic of the historic tissue while, at the same time, creating something new and contrasting with the existing architecture.

 Philip Lauterbach

The front faade is designed in a semi-circular, streamlined form, which is wrapped around the back of the Neo Classical Cathedral, creating a link between the two beautiful squares on each side. The warm Dundry facing stone follows from its use in the original medieval Cathedral and Choristers Hall and provides a break from the cool crisp 18th century surrounding structures. The curved faade is like a big jigsaw no two stones are the same, each one is unique and individual. More than a faade of a building, it is a large-scale architectural sculpture. There is an emphasis on the two gables, both visible from surrounding squares. A six metre high figure The Waterford Lady sculpted on west gable is based on a tiny 13th century belt mount found during the archaeological excavations on site.

Philip Lauterbach At the approach to main entrance, glass vision panels provide views to the carefully conserved Choristers Hall below. The entire width of recessed glazing that slides apart allows interior of the ground floor to be open onto Cathedral Square and the border between the inside and outside disappears.

Diagram Floor Plan 1 One of the design challenges was to incorporate the medieval structure of Choristers Hall located below ground level into the new building. Internal layout was strongly influenced by the shape of the site and adjoining buildings. There are four levels to the building: two levels over ground floor consisting of exhibition galleries and audio visual theatres, the lower ground floor level is a multifunctional space and provides direct access to the Choristers Hall. The ground floor incorporates the entrance lobby, museum shop and reception.

 Philip Lauterbach

The structure is designed entirely as cast in situ concrete. Material palette was restricted to concrete, Irish pippy oak, heather Welsh slate and the mentioned Dundry stone for the facade.

Site Plan Diagram In 2014, the Museum has received LAMA Awards for the Best Public Building and The Best Heritage Project categories as well as the International Civic Trust 2014 Award .

 Philip Lauterbach The success of this design is due to the collaboration of people from diverse backgrounds: architects, artists, historians, engineers and craftsmen. This

amalgamation of different disciplines within the design team, allowed achieving this unique result. The building was designed in house by Waterford City Council Architects, Rupert Maddock, Bartosz Rojowski and Agnieszka Rojowska. Agnieszka and Bartosz are now working independently as the newly formed ROJO-Studio Architects. (www.rojo-studio.com)

* Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.