Adamstown Public Parks

The design for the parks:

"deploys a clever hierarchy of routes and public spaces with entry points and associated uses linked to the masterplan’s intentions.  Its geometry is gentle, but responsive and acknowledges the full variety of routes, uses and residential types around the edges of both parks.   The spatial organisation and clarity of the project contains a strong, legible structure, easily understandable and yet diverse. The scheme offers a consistency of design in terms of line, datum and materials which is very reassuring; the consistency of built and planting language allows both parks to be viewed together, but for each to tell a different story.
Eddie Conroy, Senior Architect, South Dublin County Council

Airlie Park is comprised of three main areas or zones and is composed around a central spine of movement and activity, running from the south east to the north west, from the main road to the proposed school and town centre. The spine is used to locate, secure and organise all the active components of the park including football, tennis, all-weather, changing rooms, cafe and spectator seating.

The southern boundary of the park is comprised of water and wetland features, using the existing stream as the water source and providing a complex array of habitat types for educational and aesthetic purposes. Here the species mix of the structural tree planting changes to  trees such as alder and other species tolerant of damp or wet conditions. The northern zone is designed to provide a quiet, informal, atmosphere adjacent residential buildings. This has the character of a more traditional park composed of a large lawn with seating areas and pathways throughout.

Several existing pine trees are retained and the existing courtyard building is proposed to be renovated in order to facilitate changing areas and showers, maintenance and a small cafe function.

Tandy’s Lane Park is composed of two main ordering devices, a series of abstract and raised walkways and gardens in the centre of the site and a deconstructed hedgerow forming the main activity strip along the new road.

The basic material of the park is cut grass, accommodating the playing pitch, informal play and kick-about, picnics, sunbathing, resting and strolling. This simple surface is punctuated with earthworks in the form of 2-2.5m high long dykes with raised walkways and gardens.

The dykes will be constructed of spoil arising from adjacent building works and excavations. The movement of this material off site is therefore avoided and the net gain in terms of energy and sustainability is significant. The dykes are seperated from the cut grass by marginal/wetland planting located in the lower areas. The dykes are connected at high levels by bridges. Pedestrian movement through the park, therefore is dramatic and varied.

The main activity strip is aligned with the new road and is designed to maximise the interaction between the streetscape and the park. The planting is designed as a deconstructed hedgerow, with the main species of hedgerow planted seperately on grids of varying dimensions. Larger trees such as ash are planted on a 4m grid, while smaller trees such as hazel and hawthorn are planted closer together. Groundcover and herbaceous species such as ivy and ferns are planted in long monocultures under the grid of trees.