Translating Ulysses; The House that James Built

This thesis is an architectural response to, or rather, translation of, a canonical work of modern literature – James Joyce’s Ulysses. Understanding architecture to be a very effective communication tool, it questions both how a literary to architectural translation could occur and what such a translation would reveal about both architecture and the novel.

Ulysses is a complex literary labyrinth that has both perplexed and inspired architects and writers alike. The text explores the subtle, nuanced rhythms of an ordinary day in the city of Dublin. Contemplation, of the novel, forces new insights and meaning that become understood through observation of simple aspects of everyday existence.

This work questions how architecture can allow insight into these same observations. By comparing two different styles of translation, literal and free, it results in a series of architectural installations throughout Dublin.

It reveals that neither method results in a perfect translation, and thus the architect or translator must be actively engaged in the translation— resulting in a co-authored piece.

Ultimately, the work concludes that the mere act of observation is enough to understand the rich beauty of simple everyday experiences. It is understood through reading the novel, or through the lived experience of architecture.