Design Challenge and Design Ideas

The project brief was to create a meeting point for talks on the environment and on biodiversity within Tramore Valley Park. Conceptually, the building seeks to frame a view to Carroll’s Bog and draw the park visitor closer to observe and contemplate the beauty of this unique landscape. The design for the EcoLab, is deliberately rudimentary. A hoggin floor offers groups a platform to congregate. Two gable walls and four columns made of rammed earth enclose the space. The process of “compacting earth” albeit above ground, resonates with the recent history of the site use as a landfill, in creating a compacted landscape. An open timber framed roof reveals a traditional Irish hipped roof structure, while a reed thatched roof finish offers shelter. Finally, the plan of the building references the architecture of miniature temple. Thus, creating an agora for thoughts to be discussed and debated within the park landscape.

How the brief was fulfilled

The project is the first rammed earth public building to be completed in Ireland. Earth was extracted from the vicinity of the site, processed by hand by volunteers and rammed by
hand over a 9-month period. This earth subsoil is the primary material for the floor and walls. Structurally, the roof sits on a box beam which allows it to cantilever, thus enabling the roof structure to stay standing in the event that a wall or column was removed by a determined vandal.
The creativity of the project is aligned with connecting the park user with Carrol’s bog. The whole design hinges on framing this view, creating a moment for the passer-by to engage and contemplate the beauty of this bog setting in Cork city.

Finishes:
A compacted hoggin (earth and sand mix) floor. Rammed earth walls. Painted Timber Roof. Reed thatch finish on the roof.

Sustainability:
The materials that went into the floor, walls, roof and roof finishes can be received back into nature at the end of the building’s lifetime.