Dublin, Ireland
Scott Tallon Walker and exhibition designers Ralph Appelbaum Associates have transformed Newman House’s Aula Maxima building into a 10,000ft2 exhibition space called “MoLI,” while creating universal access across all the buildings of the historic site where the University College Dublin (UCD) itself was founded.
The team’s creative alliance brought together two unique assets – the National Library of Ireland’s Joyce collections and UCD’s most significant historic property, Newman House.
Picturesquely located on the south side of St Stephen’s Green in one of Dublin’s finest historic houses, MoLI draws inspiration from the work of Ireland’s most famous writer, James Joyce, and is named for his best-known female character, Molly Bloom.
UCD Newman House has undergone years of careful restoration and modernisation under the guidance architects Scott Tallon Walker.
The historic building is the original site of UCD and a place of learning for Irish writers including James Joyce, Flann O’Brien, Maeve Binchy and Mary Lavin. The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins also lived in the building for a time. MoLI will continue this fine history of education with a significant free-to-access national children’s program, literary and writing events, readings, performances, debate and discussion, as well as a Joycean research library accessible to students, scholars and the public alike.
In the architect’s design, two new glass volumes were inserted into the historic architecture, one horizontal crowning the roof, the other in the shape of a tower (to house the new stairs and lift).
On the ground floor a large map of the city indicates where the writers were born and there is a section dedicated to the Irish language, while on the first floor is a room where the writers’ relationship to their country is illustrated.
Along with historic house tours, contemporary artistic commissions, a stunning courtyard cafe set in tranquil hidden gardens.
“From the outset, MoLI inspired and elicited enthusiastic support and encouragement from across the literary spectrum, from donors, other institutions, designers and individuals, without which the MoLI team could not have brought the vision to life,” states Eamonn Ceannt, Chairman, Museum of Literature Ireland.
Simon O’Connor, director of MoLI, said: “It is truly exciting to be so close to opening this much anticipated museum to the public.”
“The combination of UCD’s beautiful Newman House, Joycean treasures from the NLI, secret gardens, shop and exquisite courtyard café will make the Museum of Literature Ireland more than a major addition to our country’s cultural landscape – MoLI will be a literary and educational oasis for locals and visitors alike, in the very heart of Dublin.”
Architects: Scott Tallon Walker Architects
Exhibition Designers: Ralph Appelbaum Associates
Exhibition Design Team: Ralph Appelbaum, Phillip Tefft, Mirko Cerami, Helen Schulte, James Ward, and Sinead Foley
Clients: National Library of Ireland (MoLI) and University College Dublin
