Wexford County Council Headquarters

Wrapped around the perimeter an insulating double-skin facade extends a metre above the parapet to reveal six stone monoliths – the individual departments. The low horizontal form rises in parts from a two-storey datum to five stories at the entrance.

The entrance in the north-east corner consists of a double-height lobby with narrow framed glass doors supported on umber anodised frames that leads to the 85-metre long, 6.3-metre high foyer. Offset around this spine are the size two-storey self-contained buildings, each housing one of the six departments and two public staircases.

The roof is clamped shut by a heavy concrete slab that darkens and compresses the space. Cast into the roof on its south side is a pair of narrow rooflights, which illuminate the main reception desk.

Blue Kilkenny limestone is used for the floor and external walls of each building. Elsewhere, the soffit is pale-grey exposed concrete. The six reception areas, located in each block’s corner, and the two public stairs are made of oak planks. The timber is inset with full-height glass windows held in polished stainless steel frames.