Ai266 Mount-Melleray-Abbey.Pdf

01 MOUNT MELLERAY ABBEY ARCHITECTS - dhbArchitects Fintan Duffy (project director); Eddie Phelan, Hein Raubenheimer, Harry Bent, Máire Henry, Shane O’Connor, June Bolger, Emma Carvalho, Mark Fleming, Ed Walsh CLIENT - Cistercian Order STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS - Frank Fox and Associates MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL CONSULTANTS - Ramsay Cox Associates QUANTITY SURVEYORS - Grogan Associates MAIN CONTRACTOR - Clancy Construction PHOTOGRAPHER - Philip Lauterbach Project size - 1,300m2 Value - e3m Duration - 15 months Location - Cappoquin, Co. Waterford Report by Fintan Duffy, dhbArchitects Mount Melleray is a functioning monastery of the Cistercian institutional feel of the existing building with its long corridors order which has important historical and literary associations. and poorly lit cloister has been softened and brightened by the It is a protected structure with a rating of national importance. introduction of glazed openings at the end of each axis, with This project required the rebuilding and reordering of part of views to the surrounding gardens. Aspects of the monastic the monastery to provide new accommodation facilities for the life such as rigour and community are expressed in the ordered monks. The monks, many of whom are elderly, had been living layout of the cells and spaces while its contemplative nature is scattered throughout the sprawling complex of mainly early suggested by disconnecting these from the ground plane and 19th century buildings, with little or no amenities or modern facing them westwards. The mountain on which the monastery services. The primary aim of the project was to restore a sense is built is mirrored in the rising line of the rebuilt retaining wall of community by gathering all its members under one roof and outside the new chapel and the Cistercians’ respect for the providing basic comforts in self-contained rooms. purifying properties of water is seen and heard in the flow of the mountain stream channelled along its foot, which murmurs The fundamental unit of the project therefore is the monk’s quietly in the space behind the screen wall and is reflected into room or cell. Twenty-seven cells are arranged over three floors the rooms whenever the windows are open. (nine per floor) with a chapel and service facilities at ground level. Each cell has a view to the west over the monastic gardens to the The cells are vaulted in a gesture to early Irish monastic tradition. Knockmealdown Mountains. Silence was a key component of The vault also defines a central space for reading and working the brief and several kinds of silence were required: The internal aligned on the view, with a lower bed alcove to one side. The fully silence of the rooms focused on reading and contemplation; the glazed western end of each cell is framed by the external screen external silence of the setting, which is given scale and presence wall, which also provides privacy obliquely from the adjacent by the sounds of nature and the prayer bell; and the silence guest garden, and protection from the southwest winds. This which returns to the monastery rooms when they have finished cantilevered screen is formed of massive prefabricated concrete resonating to the daily activities of the community. elements, roughened by sandblasting, which catch light and shadow, expressing a materiality that is directly inspired by This new residential wing is located inside the monastic the monolithic ribbing of the abbey churches of Noirlac and enclosure, beside the newly refurbished guest house. It is built on Fontenay. The courtyard side is overlooked by the corridors to the partially demolished remains of an earlier dormitory building the cells and the common areas at first floor level; the glazed and is connected to the cloister through a reorganised lobby area curtain wall providing sequential glimpses to the outbuildings and within the existing refectory. Along the internal approaches, the tower of the Abbey church. Site Plan 32|33 Architecture Ireland 266 Section 1 1 9 13 1 1 8 1 10 1 2 11 1 7 12 1 6 1 3 5 4 3 4 1 2 5 Ground floor Typical upper floor plan 1 Cloister extension 1 Monks cell 2 Cloister 2 Corridor 3 Refectory 3 Main stairs 4 Link from accomodation block to cloister 4 Attic above refectory 5 Day room 5 Guestroom 6 Main Stairs 7 Monks’ Chapel 8 Physiotherapy 9 Boiler room 10 Shower room 11 Bathroom 12 Laundry 13 Outhouse 1. The new building at the historic Mount Melleray Abbey provides accommodation for the Cistercian Order 2. The Abbey’s imposing tower marks the setting for the new accommodation block 3. Privacy for the accommodation wing is achieved through a cantilevered screen, formed of prefabricated concrete 4. A water stream murmurs quietly behind the screen wall in the chapel 5. A new single seat bench creates a focal point behind the new glazed wall 6. Cells are vaulted in a gesture to the Irish monastic tradition 7. The architects have improved movement around the abbey – an important part of the Cistercians’ daily routine 02 03 04 05 06 07 34|35 Architecture Ireland 266 08 8. The new circular window and stairs mark the link to the new building SERENDIPITOUS CONFLUENCE does it relate in scale, materials and elements expressed against the refectory Review by James Rupert Maddock massing? How are the connections made? facade and a hollowing out of the other The approach to Mount Melleray from How does it remake the old circulation end of the block to allow for circulation and Cappoquin begins with distant views patterns? And how does it unfold new ramps to the outside. opening up as the monastery sits on the opportunities of use? In all of these lower slopes of the ancient Armorican questions it is clear that very considerable Internally, every component has its place folding of the Knockmealdowns. The thought has been invested, there is in the overall scheme: the weighty wide imposing block of the Abbey’s tower draws a deceptive simplicity that reveals a portals of in-situ concrete forming a solid you in and the raw edge of the original complexity in implementation that only is internal base platform; the retention site chosen by the Cistercians still comes generated through much hard endeavour of the original masonry east walls; the through, even after 150 years of agricultural and also, my guess is, through the autonomous cells above arranged with improvement. There is a strong sense of its development of many physical models. the corridors and servant spaces; the relationship to place, which is reminiscent of articulated end zones doing their duty in elevated classical sites that were chosen to Consideration of movement of the monks addressing the junction with the refectory imbue their buildings with their contexts. during their daily offices between the new or terminating the block to the north in a residential block, cloister, refectory and way that reduces overall bulk. The broad sweep of the open space to the to the Abbey is important. The Abbey at front of the Monastery connects to the one end connects by a route around the Walking around the project, the carefully dropping landscape to the south, but on cloister to the cells with their individuality considered and unassuming handling of the arrival, there is no indication that capital and connection to nature at the other. The spaces and particularly the manipulation improvement has taken place. This points architect has emphasised the traditional of natural light reminded me constantly of to the nature of the project – it is one of importance of the cloister as the unifying the effect that it must have for the monks regeneration that is largely hidden from element with the north-west corner being themselves. It is almost a cliché to refer to the public and relates to the needs of the a hinge point, a new connection through to the use of light in architecture, but here the community itself. the refectory and residential block. From change from the gloomy original building this one point, there are a richness of axes, to the controlled and generous areas of The challenges facing the community in from the single seating bench beside the glazing that modern technology permits addressing the task of maintaining an new window to the quiet detailing of the must have had a dramatic psychological eclectic array of ecclesiastical, visitor and stairs and circular window at the far side of effect. What is evident from the architects’ farm buildings, which had developed for a the refectory that links through to the new handling of the project is their prioritising previous era must have been immense. This building. The daily procession between of the needs of the monks as individuals and project relates to the crucial link between Abbey and new block is enriched by discrete as a community. Everything is attuned to sustainability of use and conservation. elements that give just sufficient addition, this end. This demonstrates a true respect Conservation involves more than but not intrude on the experience. for the client, which will in turn help the implementing principles such as research, community to sustain themselves into the minimum intervention and recording. How The new block rewards analysis. It future and ultimately the physical fabric of does the architect help generate conditions has simplicity of form that belies a the monastery. that promote continuation of suitable use sophistication of external and interior that, in the long run, is the best way to development and it delicately balances Mount Melleray has an important role as a maintain physical fabric? This is a complex between the sloping ground and the spiritual and peaceful oasis for the region task; one that requires time, dialogue, a existing monastery.

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