Kildare County Library
Newbridge, Kildare, Ireland
Planning permission has been granted for a new Kildare County Library, Archives and Cultural Centre, designed by Metropolitan Workshop. The 2,260 sqm facility combines the historic 1930s Art Deco library (a protected structure) with a modern vision of what a library can be: a civic hub, an engine for knowledge, and a centre for community life.
Metropolitan Workshop are leading a multidisciplinary team including JCA Architects, AECOM, and BB7, delivering this innovative cultural project for Kildare County Council. The building accommodates contemporary library collections, archival and local studies, reading spaces, and a 100-person event space, maker space, and business suite to support educational, cultural, and community events. The spatial layout balances intimate and expansive areas, offering places to meet, learn, or enjoy quiet reading with views over the River Liffey.
The library is conceived as a cluster of buildings, integrating the original protected structure into a cohesive ensemble. The design evokes a miniature version of Newbridge, comprising a pair of villas, a townhouse, a garden, and a courtyard, all connected by an internal street and central atrium. This approach is informed by careful study of the town’s history, morphology, and relationship with the river, creating a vibrant civic destination.
Passive sustainability measures are embedded throughout the design, including natural ventilation via openable windows, daylighting through extensive glazing, and a high-efficiency air-to-water heat pump system. Photovoltaic panels on the roof provide renewable energy, while sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) such as green roofs, permeable paving, and rain gardens reduce runoff. The landscape design includes a sensory garden, a courtyard linked to the event space, and a new public plaza that guides visitors from Main Street to the riverfront and Riverbank Arts Centre, helping to reorientate the town toward the River Liffey.
Team: Metropolitan Workshop – Architectural Services JCA Architects – Conservation Architectural Services AECOM – Civil, Structural, M&E Engineering, Transport Consultancy, Quantity Surveying, Landscape Architectural Services BB7 – PSDP, Fire Safety & DAC, Assigned Certifier
Status: Approved for Planning
"The proposed Library and County Archives will be a key cultural catalyst within the Town of Newbridge. In conjunction with the Riverbank Arts Centre, it will establish a vibrant Cultural Quarter at the gateway to the Town."
