Construction of the much anticipated new East Meath Library in the centre of Bettystown is due to begin shortly after a sod turning ceremony which is scheduled to take place on Thursday 8th September with the completion date set for December 2023.
Prominently positioned at the interface between Bettystown and the expansive sandy beach, this landmark new building will house a new public library, lifeguard station and facilities to encourage and support beach activities.
Strongly related to the beach and sea the building will be elevated on a podium, set above the coastal flood level, which allows for a series of clearly defined spaces for public use with elevated views to the horizon.
Architect Robin Lee told Drogheda Life that the building will be scaled sensitively in order to not dominate the local environment while presenting a “bold and legible frontage” to the beach.
“It is intended that the building acts as a clear landmark signalling the transition from town to beach” he said. “The specific heights of each of the four blocks are determined in response to the scale of the surrounding context in order that the relatively large building is able to sit harmoniously within the small town context.
“The proposed building seeks to mediate between the various scales of building in the local area in order to bring coherence to the town centre.
“Providing a range of relatively autonomous functions (public library, beach-related facilities and lifeguard station) the objective at ground floor is to give distinct expression to the functions through a series of stepped blocks with an entrance to the core functions contained within distinct blocks.
“A fourth block contains a community room, which is intended as a space for collective, community use. The clustered plan arrangement at ground floor ensures that the building is understood as a single public building, servicing the needs of the community in and around Bettystown and the needs of Bettystown Beach as a significant public asset within the local area.
“The site strategy is to establish a compact building footprint related in placement and scale to an existing three-house terrace and large shed which currently occupy the site. This enables the creation of an enhanced public route from the village centre to Bettystown Beach along the southern edge of the new building.
“Varying in width this route creates a series of public space opportunities with a south-facing orientation encouraging pedestrian use of the town centre. Public access from town centre to Bettystown Beach is enhanced via this primary pedestrian route that gives access to a series of entrances at ground floor serving the multiple activities at ground floor including public library, public toilets and shower facilities and a lifeguard station directly overlooking the beach.
“This route is conceived as a ‘boardwalk’ with a balustrade and material palette to signify this important pedestrian link between town and beach. The ‘boardwalk’ opens out at its Eastern end to a wide set of steps onto Bettystown Beach.
Welcoming the development local Councillor Sharon Toan said: “This is wonderful news for the people of East Meath, and more welcome investment in crucial community facilities that we have been lacking for many years.
“The much-anticipated development will bring a library service back to East Meath for the first time since the mid 2000’s. Laytown library was the first purpose built branch in the county back in 1957 and the fabulous new library will deliver a whole new set of firsts to the residents of Laytown, Bettystown and Mornington.
“The new development will have the first Sensory Room in the county, the first library to offer users free access to the latest in 3D technology, and the first library to offer group study pods to students.
“This state-of-the-art facility is designed with a variety of users in mind and features dedicated areas for children, teens and adults — whether they need a quiet place to work or are holding a book club. Expert staff, extensive collections and accessible learning spaces will provide the people of East Meath with the knowledge and information skills they need in the 21st century.
