John Ronan Architects

The building is defined by a series of monumental stone walls rising two stories in height and spanning across a concealed parking area on the lower level of the sloping site. The stone walls are arranged in parallel, like pages of a book, to reference the literary origins. Museum goers move through and between these walls as the story of the writers life and ideas unfolds, chapter by chapter. Visitors enter the building through a gently sloping steel bridge over a reflecting pool in which the image of the stone planes’ heroic cantilever is reflected. The foot bridge is made of weathering Cor-ten steel. Upon entering the building, visitors are welcomed into a double height lobby space with a statue beyond, framed by the walls of the two-story lobby. From here, the buildings public spaces – museum and library – can be entered. The museum is ordered by a series of granite walls organizing its content into themed sections. The light-toned granite serves a backdrop for the cable-hung museum exhibits. Exterior walls are made of transparent, solid cast glass bricks purposely dis-aligned to reference the deckled edge of a book page. The library is a multi-purpose space hosting a variety of events including lectures, film screenings, panel discussions, dinners, etc. It is a comfortable and inviting space where important topics are discussed, with wood floor, ceiling, bookshelves and café bar.