landscape - Irish Landscape Institute

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N u a c h t l i t i r O i f i g i ú i l I n s t i t i ú i d A i litirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
W h a t
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p a r k ?
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Re-opening of Eyre Sq
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Father Collins Park
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Martha Swarthz interview
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The Irish Landscape Institute
is kindly supported by:
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LANDSCAPE
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LANDSCAPE Ireland is the official journal of the Irish
Landscape Institute.
The Irish Landscape Institute is the representative
body for Landscape professionals in Ireland. The
Irish Landscape Institute is affiliated to the European
Foundation for Landscape Architecture (EFLA).
Editorial:
Irish Landscape Institute
8 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
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C O N T E N T S
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News & Events
S P E C I A L
F E A T U R E S
P 09 Eyre Sq Re-newed
P 14 Martha Schwarthz
Ph
+ 353 1 6627409
Email infoili@eircom.net
visit
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P 16 Father Collins Park
www.irishlandscapeinstitute.com
R E G U L A R S
Editorial Committee:
Deirdre Black
Mark Boyle
Daibhí Mac Domhnaill
P 19 Project Profile
All rights reserved. The views expressed in this
publication are not necessarily those of the Irish
Landscape Institute or the editorial committee
P 22 Practice Profile;
Stephen Diamond & Associates
Cover Photo:
Eyre Sq Galway, April 2006
by kind permission of Mitchell & Associates
P 21 On Location;
Sitio Burle Marx
P 08 An t-Eagarthóir
P 23 Weblinks
P 23-24
Classifieds
The Official Journal of the Irish Landscape Institute, Spring 2006
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News & events
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Architec ts
a nonymous?
by Mark Boyle
The Building Control Bill 2005 aims
to regulate use of the title ‘architect’
by setting up a register of architects
administered by the RIAI. The reason
for this is to protect consumers from
unqualified individuals posing as
architects. The Bill went before the
Dáil in December 2005 and is currently in the second stage,
prior to referral to select committee. The concern for landscape
architects is that the wording of the Bill was such that it would
preclude landscape architects from using their established
professional title as it stated that:
Launch of New
Landscape Journal
Spring 2006 sees the publication of the first issue of JoLA
(Journal of Landscape Architecture); a new peer reviewed
journal which is being published by the European Council of
Landscape Architecture Schools (ECLAS).
The journal is to be published twice annually. The aim of JoLA
is to provide a platform for and to stimulate scholarly debate in
Landscape Architecture. Typically issues will consist of research
papers, critiques of projects and visual essays, along with book
reviews, academic notes and editorial.
See: www.info-jola.de
“Any person who… practises or carries on
business under any name, style or title containing the word
“architect”, unless he or she is registered under this Part…
shall be guilty of an offence”.
The ILI learnt of the Bill in April 2006 and have been working to
ensure that the Bill is amended to allow landscape architects
to continue to use their title. An ILI committee was set up to
address the issue, consisting of Kieran O’Neill, Deirdre Black,
Tony Williams, John Ward and Mark Boyle. After writing to
Mr. Dick Roche, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government and lobbying several politicians requesting
that the Bill be changed and that the ILI be consulted in this
change, the ILI has just been informed by the Department of
the Environment that the Bill will be amended in the coming
weeks. The Department of the Environment and the RIAI have
also assured the Irish Landscape Institute that it was never the
intention to exclude landscape architects.
This has led to a great deal of discussion within the ILI about the
possibility of legal protection for the title ‘Landscape Architect’
and this possibility is being carefully examined at present.
Look up ‘Landscape Architect’ in the Golden Pages and you
will see all manner of contractors and garden centres listed. Is
this acceptable? If you have an opinion on this matter, please
email; mark.boyle@murray-associates.com or write to the ILI at
8 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.
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The Parks Professionals Network
The Parks Professionals Network (PPN) is an informal group of
local authority professional staff working in Parks Departments
around Ireland. The network has been set up with the aim of
sharing information and addressing issues of common interest
among the members of the network under the umbrella of the ILI.
It also aims to advance the continuing professional development
of parks staff in local authorities.
The PPN has organised several successful workshops
and meetings with an emphasis on policy and professional
development eg. Special Needs Accessibility; Planning; Parks
& Open Space Management and looks forward to organising a
joint seminar/ workshop with the ILI in the near future.
Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
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For
New
National
Planning Strategy?
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The Life and Death of
News & events
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Jane Jacobs
Henk Van Der Kemp and Minister Dick Roche, pictured at the IPI Planning
Awards during November 2005 - photo by Anew Mc Knight
President of the Irish Planning Institute, Henk Van der Kemp has
called for the preparation of a new national planning strategy to
replace the National Spatial Strategy 2002-2020. Speaking at
the annual IPI conference in Sligo, Mr Van der Kemp suggested
that if current trends in population and economic growth are
sustained, the population of the island could in the future reach
the pre-famine population of 8 million. Van der Kemp criticised
The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) as being incoherent and
spreading development too widely with too many designated
“gateways” and “hubs” and that the NSS was based on population
projections which are now being exceeded.
Mr. Van der Kemp criticised the incongruence of the NSS as
adopted and the Governments plans for decentralisation
of government departments to 53 locations in 25 counties
as announced in 2003, many of the locations being in small
market towns, without high capacity public transport links or
complimentary educational and commercial services.
Van der Kemp argued that the projected population expansion,
associated developments and the prospect of an additional
1.5 million cars on our roads; requires more radical planning
solutions to deliver sustainable settlements that support efficient
public transport, services and quality of life.
Speaking at the same conference, Minister for the Environment
Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche; responded to Henk
Van der Kemps call for a drafting of a new National Plan as
“premature”, as the 20 year NSS strategy was sufficiently robust
to cope with population growth.
April saw the passing of Jane Jacobs; influential writer and
urban theorist. Ms. Jacobs died of natural causes, on Tuesday
April 25th at the age of 89.
Jacobs was best known as the author of The Life and Death of
Great American Cities (1961), a book long established as core
reading on University courses the world over.
Born on May 4thy 1916, Jacobs never acquired formal training in
Architecture or Planning yet with The Life and Death of American
Cities, Jacobs attacked the principles of modernist planning and
city design prevalent at the time. Jacobs espoused a humanist
or traditional vision of the city, where neighbourhoods contain
a mix of uses and activities, old buildings are recycled and
public transport is championed over the private motor car. The
principles under-pinning Jacobs’ thesis on the city; of pedestrian
permeability, density, diversity and the famous phrase of “eyes
on the street”, have formed the cornerstone of contemporary
urban design theory.
In The Economy of Cities (1969) Jacobs argues that in certain
situations, city development preceded agriculture. In the Wealth
of Nations (1984) Jacobs argues that the financial health of a
nation depended on productive cities.
Jacobs began her career working as a freelance journalist in
Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1952 she moved to Architecture
Forum magazine where she later became editor.
In late 1968 Jacobs moved with her family to Canada, later
becoming a Canadian citizen. Jacobs’ remained active
throughout her life as an urban theorist and community activist,
touring at the age of 88 to promote her book Dark Age Ahead
(2004).
The Official Journal of the Irish Landscape Institute, Spring 2006
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News & events
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S ustaining
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Interest:
achieving
s u s ta i n a b i l i t y
t hrough landscape ar c h i t e c t u r e
Barry Lupton & Mark Boyle review the recent ILI Conference
“Sustainability is increasing in relevance and urgency,” said
Trevor Sargent TD, opening the biennial Irish Landscape
Institute conference. The conference was entitled Sustaining
Interest: Achieving sustainability through landscape architecture
– a direct reference to the waning interest in the over-used, underinformative term ‘sustainability’. We’ve heard it all before, and
yet, as professionals, we must continue to be environmentally
responsible in our schemes. But is sustainable design inherently
dull? That’s one stereotype that the speakers put to rest in a
remarkable day at the Brooklodge Hotel.
Setting the tone for the thought provoking day was Lars Gemzøe,
Architect with Gehl Architects in Copenhagen and senior lecturer
at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, with his talk entitled
People and Public Spaces. Utilising a variety of often-humorous
slides, Lars illustrated how societal change, and particularly
mass communications and the rise of sedentary lifestyles,
have altered use patterns in public space. “Public space was
historically used out of necessity. When a family of eight share a
two-room home, there is no option but to be outside. Now we live
in lower density environments and are becoming increasingly
more isolated. There is a growing need for more informal contact
and we can address this by creating spaces focused on human
needs” said Lars. Lars’ work with Jan Gehl aims to analyse how
people actually use space to create an awareness of the value of
well-designed public spaces for a high quality of life.
Throwing a spotlight on the diverse interpretations and
definitions of sustainability and offering the attendees a number
of specific environmental remediation solutions was Maria
Helena Farrall, of the School of Science and Technology at the
Xochimilco Ecological Park, by kind permission Grupo de Diseno Urbano
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Universidade Nova de Lisboa. Extolling the virtues of wildlife
over-bridges, culverts and viaducts, Maria cautioned that
remediation interventions would only succeed where they are
continually monitored, evaluated and maintained. While Maria
provided many specific examples of remediation techniques,
Ann Buttimer, Emeritus Professor of Geography at UCD, drew
back and presented a macro view of development, exploring the
broader factors of scale, socio-political and functional contexts in
respect to transforming use and interpretations of landscape.
With the morning session and a fantastic dinner under their
belts (many thanks to An Bord Bia for providing sponsorship)
the delegates returned to their seats to be inspired by Davie
Philip and Bruce Darrell, both active members in the The
Village, Cloughjordan sustainable village initiative. Outlining the
background to the project Davie said, “The world is changing; in
the near future we will have to continue to develop but with less
and less. At Cloughjordon we are creating a cooperative, self
sufficient community that will evolve from the bottom up.” The
plans for the 67-acre development in North Tipperary include,
132 households, community allotments and an extensive area
for woodland. Design and planning is undertaken in consultation
with all members and is guided by permaculture principles.
“Cloughjordan will explore the reintegrating of human habitation
and food production. While it will certainly be productive it will
also be a place where people want to stay rather than feeling
that they need to go to somewhere nice for their holidays”
commented an enthused Bruce.
“To whom does Water Belong?” said Gerhard Hauber introducing
his talk entitled Waterscapes – Creative and Sustainable use of
Water in Public Space. Principal Landscape Architect with Atelier
Chapultepec Park, by kind permission Grupo de Diseno Urbano
Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
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Dreiseitl, one of Europe’s most innovative landscape architecture
offices, Gerhard has worked on a range of waterscapes aimed
at maximising the opportunities presented by water, particularly
management of stormwater and site water. ”Of all the water
that falls on our cities only 20% ever recharges our aquifers.
Finite, indispensable and under threat, water, not oil, is our
most valuable resource” said Gerhard. In addition to opening
the audiences’ eyes to the benefits of exploiting storm water,
Gerhard also illustrated how adopting a multidisciplinary design
approach can produce truly successful sustainable results and
stunning public spaces. Atelier Dreiseitl’s public space projects
include Potsdamer Platz, Berlin; City Hall, Chicago; and Zurich
Zoo.
Continuing Gerhard’s aqueous flow and holistic approach was
Mario Schjetnan, founder partner of Grupo de Diseno Urbano
(GDU) in Mexico City, with his talk entitled Parks as Expressions
of Contemporary Urbanism. Using a number of his practice’s
projects from Mexico City and California, Mario demonstrated
how the environment, history, culture, economics, art and
modern concepts of living can be interwoven to produce layered,
sustainable habitats, which respond and evolve to enhance
increasingly complex urban lives. GDU’s projects are – like
the projects of the late Luis Barragán – a stunning synthesis
of Mexico’s rich cultural heritage and modern landscape
architecture. Some of the projects presented on the day were
Xochimilco Ecological Park, Technoparque Azcapotzalco and
Chapultepec Park – all in Mexico City. Chapultepec Park is
a 19th Century park in the centre of Mexico City (which gets
17million visitors per year!) and is being reinvigorated by GDU’s
creative interventions.
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“It makes good economic sense
to
make
good
environmental
choices”.
Further Reading:
Lars Gemzøe
www.gehlarchitects.dk;
Books: Life Between Buildings (by Jan Gehl); Public Spaces
Public Life (with Jan Gehl); New City Spaces (with Jan Gehl)
Ann Buttimer
Book: Sustainable Landscapes and Lifeways: Scale and
Appropriateness
The Village
www.thevillage.ie; www.cultivate.ie
Atelier Dreiseitl www.dreiseitl.com;
Book: New Waterscapes: Planning, Building and Designing with
Water
Mario Schjetnan www.gdu.com.mx;
Book: Ten Landscapes: Mario Schjetnan by James Grayson
Trulove.
Drawing the day to a close and capturing its central message
in a few short words was Declan O’Leary, Vice President of the
ILI:
Wildlife over bridge, by kind permission Maria Helena Farrall
Potsdamer Platz, by kind permission Atelier Dreiseitl
The Official Journal of the Irish Landscape Institute, Spring 2006
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An t-Eagarthóir
What is a Park? What does does it matter?
March saw the staging of a thoroughly invigorating and
inspirational ILI biennial conference. The presentations on the
day – though widely varied – were remarkably synchronous
in their central message that sustainable development is an
opportunity for landscape architects. The stereotype of an
ecological park as a creative void, a dull, naturalistic place was
blown out of the water. Public spaces, parks, plazas, business
parks and housing areas were all presented as works of art
which integrate sustainable principles, not simply as swamps
with ‘KEEP OUT’ signs.
Several months ago the esteemed Editorial Committee on
postulating captivating and topical themes for future publications
agreed that the Spring 2006 edition would take the title; New
Irish Parks. Ever eager to receive contributions from members
we issued a call for articles under this heading. Reactions were
surprising, disapproving of the theme and notion. A colleague
responded, “we don’t design new parks”, and another “we don’t
design parks”. The editorial committee reconvened, gallons of
midnight oil later we considered a title changed to; New Public
Spaces, then we made an executive decision, hence the title:
“What is a Park?”
The Oxford dictionary defines a park as: “a large public garden in
a town for recreation, a large enclosed piece of ground attached
to a country house usually with woodland and pasture and/or a
large area of kept land in its natural state for recreational use”.
The Irish for park: párc, also describes an enclosed field used
for the grazing of animals. All of the above meanings would
suggest a park as a territory, defined and enclosable. However
it is not uncommon in foreign jurisdictions for the term park to
be attributed to open space areas void of enclosure devices
(railings, fences). The above linguistic definitions also suggests
that creativity and art have little or no role in park-making
Is Galway’s Eyre Square a park, or is it a plaza? Is it a plaza,
is it a park? A park-plaza, a plaza park? A plark? A parkza?
It is green and hard, soft and paved, with trees and boasts a
children’s playground and pretty planting beds. It is definitely for
recreation but is not railed or enclosed. Is it a demi-park, semipark, parkette or parkesque plaza? And anyway what does is
matter?
Tired of Etymological bickering, the editorial committee have
proposed a new word to quell the fiery debacle; PARF (Publicly
Accessible Recreational Facility), admittedly a bit audibly flat
rolling off the tongue, but distinctly more accurate and a catch
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all for the grande mellée of squares, parks, plazas, greens. A
new word that surfs over the waves of linguistic ambiguity and
poor definition.
So, dear reader we hope you enjoy the delights of the PARFs all
around you and those featured in this issue.
Landmark projects such as
G a l w a y ’s E y r e S q u a r e , F r.
Collins Park and the Royal
Canal Linear Park; demonstrate
a revived application of artistry
to the built environment in
Ireland.
ILI KEY DATES
Irish Landscape Institute AGM
6.30pm, 20th June 2006
at the RIAI, 8 Merrion Sq., D2
Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
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existing trees
proposed trees
modular paving
grey granite paving flags
PC concrete flags
shrub planting
hedge planting
Plan for the refurbishment Eyre Sq (planning Stages) by kind permission Mitchell & Associates
By Daibhí Mac Domhnaill
Finally, after many long years of difficulty and controversy the
new Eyre Square was opened on Thursday April 13th, to the
great excitement and relief of the people of Galway.
The ambitious Eyre Square project has been an endurance test
for designers Mitchell and Associates, a project that has been
through oral hearings, protests, local politics and construction
delays.
The re-opening of Eyre Square completes a pedestrianised zone
which now runs from Galway’s Train Station to the banks of the
Corrib River along the historic east-west spine of the mediaeval
city.
Eyre Square originated from a mediaeval common, the Irish
for Eyre Sq is; An Faiche Mór (the big green/fare ground). The
space is reputed too have been used for jousting tournaments
and markets. Archaeological excavations undertaken during
construction uncovered the remains of an eighteenth century
market building (in addition to 20 skeletons). The square was
officially presented to the city in 1710 by Mayor Edward Eyre,
from whom it took its name. Originally the square was enclosed
with timber railings. These were later replaced in the 1890’s
with iron railings, when the square was regraded and rows of
trees were planted, some of which survive in the new scheme.
Of note is that this has not been the first occasion an esteemed
landscape architectural practice has prepared a scheme for the
square. During the early 1960’s a design by Jim Fehilly FILI was
implemented. The scheme was based on an orthoginal modernist
plan and incorporated a plaza area to the top of the square
overlaid with a grid of Norway Maple trees. The iron railings
were at this time removed to the churchyard of St. Nicholas’
Cathedral where they still stand today. In 1965, the square was
officially renamed “Kennedy Memorial Park” in honour of US
President John F. Kennedy, who visited here shortly before his
assassination in 1963.
The involvement of Mitchell and Associates in the project
began in 1997, when a feasibility study was undertaken on the
upgrading of the urban spaces in the City Centre. early phases
of which included the Spanish Parade and Shop St.
The proposals for Eyre Square were first presented in January
1999. The preferred scheme was one of many options prepared
by Mitchell & Associates; and perhaps the most understated.
Earlier options included a formal/symmetrical arrangement of
terraces and a cascading canal.
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general dissatisfaction with the tone and image of the proposed
make-over. Many opponents latched onto the sound-bite of the
proposed plaza element being a concept alien to Galway and
its heritage. At one stage the Galway Environmental Alliance
enlisted the services of Chelsea Garden Winner Mary Reynolds
to design an alternative scheme.
Despite misgivings by some local groups; the City Council
persisted with the preferred scheme and commissioned an
Environmental Impact Assessment. An Bord Pleanala later held
an oral hearing during September 2002 and upheld the proposals
with some conditions; such as the retention of 21 additional trees
and the incorporation of a children’s play area.
Aerial view of Eyre Sq, prior to refurbishment
The primary thrust of the chosen scheme celebrates and
accentuates the linkage of the bus and rail station with Shop
St/William St, in a gracious arced path that segments the space
between hard plaza and lawn terracing.
A colleague recently asked “Is the New Eyre Square very different
from the old”, I responded, “No, just better”. The designers
clearly recognised the cultural and local value of Eyre Square as
a green space, where for generations Galwegians have loitered
and gathered during clement weather. On warm summer
afternoons the lawn areas would fill with circles of friends. The
Mitchell scheme has not radically altered or re-orientated the
function of the space, but rather built on its historical value and
success. The new scheme actually has 20% more green space
than the previous incarnation and includes 120 new trees. The
plaza area at the top of the square is more flexible and usable;
as a result of the removal of a dense grid of Norway maples and
the repositioning of the ‘corten sails’ sculpture to the edge.
The refurbishment of Eyre Square has also dovetailed with
a larger traffic management strategy for the city centre. Car
parking was removed from the edges of the square and the west
side is now closed off to traffic, connecting the green space of
the square seamlessly with the pedestrianised Shop St.
However greater difficulties loomed ahead. The tender for the
construction of the project was awarded to Samuel Kingston
Constuction Ltd. Works commenced on site in February 2004.
Initial progress on the construction of the project was slow. Works
on the site were limited to weekdays, a pattern that provoked the
ire of city businesses and residents; in addition the project was
setback by employer/employee disputes. In April of that year the
30 workers on site downed tools, demanding improved pay and
conditions.
The lowest point was reached when at dawn on Monday June
27th 2005, Samuel Kingston Construction Ltd, quit the site,
leaving the works unfinished. This matter is currently still the
subject of proceedings between Kingston and the City Council.
The project attracted negative publicity in the local media. An
editorial in the Galway Advertiser, described the idle construction
site as “Fallujah Square” and suggested that Eyre Sq would
become a byword for “inefficiency and incompetence”.
Children’s play area, photo by D Mac Domhnaill
The design process for the scheme involved extensive public
consultation and was the subject of an accessibility audit to
ensure universal and disabled access.
The City Council’s proposal for the square was resisted initially
by some local traders and the Galway Environmental Alliance.
The Galway Environmental Alliance were concerned about the
removal of trees as part of the redevelopment and expressing
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Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
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A task force was appointed by the Council to oversee the
completion of the project and subsequently SIAC Construction
were appointed to complete the works. SIAC have won great
esteem in the city for the manner in which they proceeded
to complete the refurbishment and delivered the square
within the revised programme and budget. Local fast food
outlet Supermacs even hung a banner outside their Eyre Sq
restaurant, thanking SIAC for a job well done.
The overall budget for the square was €9.6 million, the
construction budget accounted for €6.3 million, of which
approximately 25% was spent on sub surface infrastructure,
such as relaying a foul sewer for the Mutton Island Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
Ed Frampton of landscape architects Mitchell and Associates
describes the project as “ a statement of the civic ambition of
Galway as a city and the premier space of the west coast”.
“The project stimulated controversy, but this is not untypical
of major urban space projects, where it is difficult to please all
affected”.
The arced path leading to the train station, photo by D Mac Domhnaill
The initial impact of the reopened Eyre Square, has been
exceptionally positive. The children’s play area has proven
hugely popular, and a welcome innovation in such a high profile
city space. The one major criticism would be the modest scale
of the play area which will inevitably be saturated with children
during the busy weeks of July and August.
There is no doubting the ambition and courage of Galway City
Council, in investing so much in the public realm of the city.
Over the course of time, the city and its residents will continue
to benefit from these investments as the city consolidates its
image as a cultural destination and a place to serendipitously
saunter. One hopes that other local authorities are motivated
and not discouraged to emulate and compete with the civic
ambitions of Galway.
Sitting wall at edge of lawn terrace, by kind permission of Mitchell & Associates
The plaza at the top of the square, by kind permission of Mitchell & Associates
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M a r t h a
Grand Canal Square in Dublin is the latest part of the world to
undergo the Martha Schwartz treatment. A landscape architect
and artist, Schwartz is a lead player in the global theatre of
modern city building. Her approach is determined by a belief
that landscape design solutions can be raised to the level
of fine art, and she describes her creations as “site-specific
installation”. As the principal of Martha Schwartz Inc. with offices
in Massachusetts and London, a Professor in the Harvard
Graduate School of Design, and the recipient of more design
awards than is polite to mention, she has the kind of international
career enjoyed by only the starriest of starchitects.
When I met her recently in Belfast, where she was about to
give a lecture on the design of the public realm from an artistic
standpoint, she was feeling decidedly edgy; “From the art point
of view, I think I would be seen as a tangential kind of something.
I actually like edge conditions better than being at the centre of
anything. It’s a very interesting place to be”. While those located
closer to the cores of the worlds of landscape architecture and
art may question her “smudging” of the lines between the two
disciplines, she seems to enjoy the creative collisions that result;
“I really think we are enjoying some kind of strange Renaissance,
and I think that the world of design and the world of art have
crashed together.”
S c h w a r t h z
B y
D e i r d r e
Schwartz can be seen as a direct descendant of the Land
Artists of the 1960s and 70s, American artists such as Robert
Smithson, Nancy Holt, Alan Sonfist and James Turrell. These
sculptors worked on monumental scales using the landscape
itself as material – constructing works of art in wild or degraded
landscapes as a creative reaction against the commercial gallery
system. Schwartz, however, sees her work as being made of
the stuff cities are made of - “I would say that my work is Land
Art, except it is Land Art brought into the city, where instead of
bulldozing rocks and earth we are trying to manipulate the stuff
that we produce in the city, man made stuff, our manufactured
environments.”
While the original Land Artists relied on wealthy patrons and
private foundations to fund their work, Schwartz plays an
active part in the practical processes of city development, land
reclamation and master planning. Artists may take inspiration
from a place, or may create a piece of public art in a particular
place, but Schwartz actually gets to create place, within
developments as diverse as Japanese apartment blocks, Atlanta
shopping centres, a New York plaza and Dublin’s own Grand
Canal Square. How does one get to a stage where the landscape
becomes one’s easel? “You have to be really clever about how
you get sites to make your site-specific art. One way is you
Grand Canal Square, montage of proposals, by kind permission of Martha Schwarthz Inc.
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Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
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make maquettes and you put them in a gallery until bigger and
bigger opportunities come by, except that is horribly slow, and
is very unsatisfying if you don’t want to build maquettes all your
life. Another way is to get direct commissions from cities. What
I chose to do is to call myself a landscape architect because
people are not really threatened by that, whereas artists are by
their very nature subversive.”
The pace of modern society deems that place is more often than
not created all at once, rather than emerging slowly over time,
time that allows for the gradual adaptation of the landscape to
its required function. Historically, tumultuous or all at once placemaking has been at the behest of single minded monarchs and
dictators or followed the devastation of war. Now, landscape
architects work alongside a wide range of professions in the
modern frenzy to create and re-create urban places. In the
face of many and often conflicting public, political and financial
requirements - as the song goes - there can be a load of
compromisin’ on the road to our horizon. Schwartz, however, is
known for sticking to her guns, and for defending her designs in
the face of the harshest of critics and bureaucratic wranglings.
She is clear in her personal design approach; “The intent is to
exercise one’s vision, one’s will, one’s sensibility and to make
something that somehow is whole.”
While asserting her right to artistic expression in the public
realm, Schwartz is critical of the skewed imbalance between
the design professions that resulted from some of the ideals of
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early modernism. “We are just getting to push past this kind of
Bauhausian notion that the architect is the master artist, thank
God this seems to be coming to an end. Architecture is like any
other profession today in that there is so much information that
nobody can cover it all. Certainly, in the modernist tradition the
landscape played, I wouldn’t say an insignificant role, but certainly
a passive role in the whole story. The landscape supported the
“architecture as sculpture”, and was a passive kind of female
thing against the active male. The only story or relationship the
landscape had was that of portraying nature against the machine
- the machine in the garden paradigm.” Such an attitude that
sees the designed landscape as merely providing a natural foil
to the buildings, limits the potential for creative expression within
landscape design; “If you only read the designed landscape as
a passive re-creation of a natural landscape - as a designer, if
you have an artistic agenda or an ego, how far can you go with
that?”
Suspicious of relying on languages of landscape design that are
outmoded, Schwartz believes in the predictive nature of art and
the role it can play in the development of quality public spaces;
“Our job as artists is to talk about the time we’re in and to invent
the future - to invent what’s coming. Landscape design cannot
just be rooted in the past, it has to draw through osmosis what
a place is about, and then express this in a way that is almost a
new language for that place. In order to cut a creative path you
have to create the future.
“ O ur job as artists is to talk about the time we’re in
a n d to invent the future - to invent what’s coming ... “
Grand Canal Square, montage of proposals, by kind permission of Martha Schwarthz Inc.
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Artists are feared and loathed because people don’t want change
to happen, people are by nature fearful of change, well, most
people, thank God not everyone.”
A Dubliner fearful of change would be a very fearful Dubliner
indeed these days, so it makes sense that Schwartz has been
commissioned to design a new open space here at a time
when then the city is busy inventing its future. Her proposals
for Grand Canal Square are a dramatic and dynamic interplay
with the jagged geometry of the Daniel Libeskind designed
Theatre building. It is envisaged that work on the Square will
begin this year and construction will roll out in phases in line with
the completion of the surrounding buildings. The last phase will
coincide with the delivery of the Theatre in 2008. She praises the
Dublin Dockland Development Authority for being “an incredible
client, someone who wanted something special and then made
it happen. Without the client you don’t have anything. Working
in the public realm you’re working with public money, the client
has to be brave enough to do something special and have the
emotional constitution to be able to take the heat if people don’t
like it, take the risk, you don’t get those kind of clients very
often.”
Landmark projects and others such as Galway’s Eyre Square,
Fr. Collins Park and the Royal Canal Linear Park in Spencer
Dock; demonstrate a revived application of artistry to the built
environment in Ireland. The hope is that such totem projects will
raise public expectations of open space and landscape design
in general. We are now seeing well designed parks, streets and
open spaces, for what they really are – integral elements of the
quality of life in any city, town or village - not optional extras,
discarded if budgets dictate. Our recent penchant for large scale
suburban building has denied whole swathes of the population
of the civic benefits that urban artistry can bring. Quality open
space requires a critical local mass of users that suburban and
spread out building can never provide. As Schwartz remarks,
if we are not designing places for people who exactly are we
designing for?
Schwartz demonstrated her approach to designing landscapes
that function in the context of “how people actually live”, in
recent proposals for East Darling Harbour, Sydney. Schwartz’s
office came second an the international design competition, but
nonetheless, the process allowed her to explore the opportunities
for developing public space that functions in accordance with
modern “genres de vie”. “We had worked very closely with
Exchange Square, Manchester
The square in Manchester was constructed after the site was destroyed by the IRA bombing of 1996. The sloping
site is navigated by means of a series of large ramps, with informal seating opportunities. A stream formerly
flowed though the site and is recalled in the water feature which runs the length of the square.
Photo by Shauna Gillies-Smith and Alan Ward, by kind permission of Martha Swarthz Inc.
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Jacob Javits Plaza, New York
Jacob Javits Plaza in New York was partly designed to enliven views from the high buildings surrounding the
space, the pattern makes reference to the formal parterres of classic French gardens. The swirling benches
covering the entire plaza allow for the users to sit wherever the sunny spot may be over the course of the day.
Schwartz used the design language of Olmstead’s Central Park in a new context – the standard park benches
are painted lime green, the “keep off the grass” mini-railing encloses grass mounds which produce cooling mist
in hot New York summers.
Photo Alan Ward, by kind permission of Martha Swarthz Inc.
Arups, the engineers, to come up with a system whereby we
would be able to create a collage of different environments.
We were going to create a big beach, we were going to plant
big trees in the rocks and then recycle all the grey water from
the development portion of the project and use that to grow the
trees, because without the trees as canopy, people can’t use the
beach. It was a conflation of best ecological practice but also an
environment that people can use. We had the trees all wired up
so that people could actually work with their computers and send
their work to a station on the beach to print the work out. You
could actually work on the beach, what people today might want
to do. We’re figuring out how people want to use space today,
not how they used to use space. These are really interesting
social, environmental, spatial kind of ideas.”
Unsurprisingly, Schwartz has some issues about the direction
her country is heading; “Right now the US is in a real retrograde
movement - post 9/11, things have really gone downhill for the
States in many ways. We’re busy making up a myth of the past
and we’ve lost a sense of the future, I think that we are fearful
of the future. There are wonderful things about the States, but
we’ve been resting on our laurels in a major way. If you take a
look at architecture, what major architecture has been coming
out of the States? Not architects, there are great architects
coming out of the States, but where have they been given their
chance, where has the culture actually supported them – Frank
Gehry, hello? He never would have had a chance in the United
States. At the moment, we are working a lot in the UK, where
there has been a great push from the top to improve the public
realm. The public spaces in cities, the spaces between the
buildings, are really the things that characterize what the city is
all about. People have choice in where they might live, and they
want a quality of life. All of a sudden the regulatory agencies are
reviewing and scrutinizing the design quality of public spaces.
Design is on the table”.
Although we may both have been somewhat biased, I put it
to Schwartz if she agreed with the assertation that landscape
architecture will prove to be the most consequential art of our
time. It was no great surprise that she agreed - “the design of
the landscape, of our environment, is the most important design
issue on the agenda for the 21st century. I really think that with
the landscape, being that it’s man-made, a construct, a figment
of our imaginations - anything goes”.
Further Reading:
The Vanguard Landscapes and Gardens of Martha Schwartz
edited by Tim Richardson, Thames & Hudson (see LANDSCAPE IRELAND,
Summer 2005, for review)
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By Deirdre Black
P a r k
In December 2003, the entries for
the competition to design Fr. Collins
Park in Donaghmede were displayed
in the Civic Offices. The winners,
Abelleyro and Romeo Architects
from Buenos Aires in Argentina have
since formed a partnership with
Magahy and Company (forming a
new company AR.ARQ.IRELAND) in
order to deliver the proposals first presented in 2003. ILI practice
member, Cunnane Strattan Reynolds have also been involved in
the delivery of the project, which is currently on display in the foyer
of Dublin City Council as part of the Part VIII planning approval
process. Unfortunately the ILI magazine budget wouldn’t stretch
to cover flights to Buenos Aires, so I put some questions about
the development of the project to architect Phillip Crowe of the
Irish side of the partnership, Magahy and Company;
Since you began working on the project, what practicalities
were encountered in terms of site constraints/budget/
facility provisions and how were these issues dealt with in
the revised proposals?
Taking the competition winning scheme through to planning has
involved considerable design development due to cost issues
and clarification of the brief. The main physical constraints on
the site are from the existing underground services along the
west side which requires a wayleave, and the existing woodland
to the west which is to be preserved. There is also an existing
water treatment plant to the northwest and the Trinity Sports
Centre in the southern sector of the park, both of which have to
be retained.
How did the partnership process operate considering the
geographical distance between practices?
Roles are very clearly defined and technology has made this
type of arrangement much easier – use of a shared internet
remote storage service, email and skype VOIP. Strategically
timed visits from the Argentinean architects were very useful in
pushing forward design development.
Father Collins Park, park masterplan
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
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What do you see as the main features of the design?
The park will be dominated by the central axis features of the
lake, promenade, wind turbines, water features and viewing
mound. The perimeter planting encloses the large open space
of the park with circulation and recreational facilities distributed
around the central axis.
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What is your approach to the edges of the site, and how it
interfaces with the surrounding urban landscape?
The concept of the park is to create a place apart from the
surrounding urban streetscape. To this end the perimeter
planting is very dense and visual permeability is not a priority.
The boundary fence is a relatively low and simple post and
beam steel fence that will mark the perimeter without creating
a visual and physical barrier. The main point of interaction
with the urban landscape occurs on the ‘main street’ which
bisects the park. This street has very wide pavements to allow
activities and events to take place and create the sense of a
public space rather than a road. At this point the perimeter
planting is broken to allow a view up the length of the park to
the water feature and viewing mound.
What skills in particular do you feel architects bring to the
design of external space?
I don’t think it is possible to answer this question in such
general terms. In this instance the architects have succeeded
in accommodating a complex brief within one very simple and
elegant design move – the promenade on a central lake.
View of model focussed on wind turbines
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
Have you developed a palette of materials for the park yet,
and what has informed these choices?
The most prominent hard landscaping material will be insitu
concrete. This is a very versatile, hardwearing and cost
effective material. The surface of the promenade will be ground
and polished to reveal the aggregate. Seating will generally be
concrete detailed with timber and sheltering elements will be
constructed from steel.
How have issues of sustainability been addressed?
The drainage system for the park is designed to avoid reliance
on external sources for water and to avoid loading onto the
local drainage system. Wetlands and a continuous cycle of
water movement will ensure rainwater is used within the park
and cleaned, to ensure the lake is clean and kept replenished
at a constant level. The electrical energy needs of the park will
be met by the 5no. wind turbines located along the promenade.
The loading will include water features, lighting and electric
maintenance vehicles.
View of model showing central promenade and lake
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
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Do you see Fr. Collins Park acting as a “totem project”,
raising the standard and expectation of open spaces in
Ireland, and if so, what are the precedents being set with
this project?
The design team is concentrating on providing a park that gives
identity and appropriate recreational provision for the new and
existing urban communities of the North Fringe area. The park
will be quite different to anything of a similar scale in Ireland
and will hopefully provide a precedent for similar developments
throughout the island.
Montage of recreation and play areas
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
What is the programme for delivery from now on?
Dublin City Council hopes to be on site in early 2007.
Montage of promenade with seating
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
Montage of wind turbines and wetlands
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
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Amphitheatre and stage
by kind permission of Magahy and Co.
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Project Profile
Grand Canal Square
The Square, at 10,000 sq m, will be one of the largest paved
public spaces in the city. The space will be framed by a new
theatre, 5-star hotel, and shops, restaurants and cafes at ground
level. The €8 million scheme replaces a smaller paved space
and is built over an underground car park at the centre of the
Grand Canal Dock development area.
The design features a composition of a red “carpet” extending
from the theatre into and over the dock crossed by a lush green
“carpet” of paving with lawns and vegetation. The red carpet
will be made of bright red resin-glass paving covered with red
glowing angled light sticks. The green carpet of polygon-shaped
planters will provide incidental seating while the planters will
contain marsh vegetation to soften the space and act as a
reminder of the historic wetland nature of the site.
At night-time, coloured lighting designed by Schwartz, in
collaboration with Edinburgh based Spiers and Major Associates,
will illuminate the square and add to the theatrical experience of
the space. The Docklands Authority is currently investigating,
with the designers, ways to make this lighting interactive.
For more on the existing developments in the Dublin Docklands
area visit the website of the Dublin Docklands Development
Authority; www.ddda.ie
Grand Canal Square, plan drawing
by kind permission of Martha Schwarthz Inc.
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Recommended Reading
By Mar Boyle
The past 6 months or so has seen a deluge of quality landscape
architecture publications hit the shelves. The following is a
selection of the most
For sheer indulgence, the following are lavishly illustrated
publications that no self-respecting practitioner should be without.
These are primarily survey type books. The most self-important
of these is Fieldwork: Contemporary European Landscape
Architecture (Ed. Landscape Architecture Europe; Birkhauser,
Germany). It is part-funded by the Landscape Architecture
Europe Foundation and contains a selection of 42 projects
from around Europe (including Fr. Collins Park – see p16). The
book is prefaced with 6 essays by eminent practitioners and
academics.
Other survey titles are In Gardens (Udo Weilacher; Birkhauser,
Germany), European Landscape Architecture (Ed. P. Zöch,
G. Loschwitz; Edition Topos, Germany), Contemporary Public
Space: Un-Volumetric Architecture (Eds. A. Aymonino & V.P.
Mosco; Skira Editore, Italy). Don’t let the title of the first of these
put you off. This is a first-rate collection of more than 30 new
public spaces, many from Eastern Europe and not published
elsewhere. Topos’ selection of 50 contemporary projects is also
captivating, if too brief at times. The Italian book is inspirational
in that it doesn’t necessarily concern itself with built work, and
liberally dips into the related arts of land art, architecture and
civil engineering.
Several thematic volumes have also come from the Birkhauser
stables: Lighting the Landscape by Roger Narboni and New
Waterscapes, edited by Atelier Dreiseitl (Gerhard Hauber of AD
was one of the speakers at the recent ILI conference, see p.6)
are the pick of the crop for the sheer breadth and depth of their
reach.
The Cultured Landscape (Eds. Sheila Harvey and the late
Ken Fieldhouse; Spon Press, London) is a collection of essays
on the aims, values and purposes of landscape architecture.
Contributors include Martha Schwartz, Alan Tate and Catherine
Ward Thompson. Less a visual feast and a little drier than the
others, this is, however, a worthwhile and rewarding read.
Penelope Hill’s Contemporary History of Garden Design
(Birkhauser, again) is also a fascinating read, overlapping late
20th- and early 21st century private and public small-scale
design from around the world.
Readers should also keep a lookout for books on landscape
practices which seem to be increasing in frequency too.
Gustafson-Porter, Martha Schwartz, Ken Smith, Michael Van
Valkenburgh and Peter Walker are among those contemporary
practices featured by various publishers in recent times.
Purchase High Quality Print versions of LANDSCAPE IRELAND
Spring 2006 and back issues available
Fill out the order form below and return with euro cheque made payable to; Irish Landscape Institute.
Irish Landscape Institute, 8 Merrion Sq, Dublin 8
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On Location
Sitio Burle Marx Rio Brasil
Text and photos by Daibhí Mac Domhnaill
A recent trip to Brasil provided an opportunity to explore in-situ
the works of Roberto Burle Marx; great icon of the Modernist and
Post Modernist periods of Landscape Architiecture.
Burle Marx projects are not difficult to find as I soon discovered
on arrival in Rio de Janeiro, where one can walk across the city
from one project to another.
The highpoint of this pligrimage was a visit to his estate; Sitio
Burle Marx, in Guaritiba on the outskirts of RIO. The Sitio was
donated by Marx to the State Government in 1985. The estate
is approximately 100 acres large, with a plant collection of some
3,500 species, accumulated by Marx over 40 plus years.
Water feature fronting the terrace of the Villa
Visitng Sitio Burle Marx is a window onto the multiplicitious
influences and motivations that inspired and drove his works
over seven decades. The paraphernalia of his personnal life;
an eclectic mix of pre-columban artefacts, Brazilian folk art, an
international collection of modern glassware, religious/spiritual
icons and antique furniture are testament to a person intensely
curious, passionate and surpisingly nostalgic.
The Marx villa also contains many examples of his own hand
painted tableclothes and bed linen, the motifs and patterns of
which resonate with his landscape compositions, in particular
later projects, such as the Copacabana promenade. These
hand-crafted works demonstrate the painterly approach to
composition and the making of form and pattern, which is the
signature of his landscape work and his legacy generations of
landscape professionals.
Water feature and canopy associated with outdoor dining area
Agave garden
Admisison is by appoinment only; Sitio Burle Marx, Estrada da barra de
Guaratiba, 2019 Guaratiba, Rio de Janeiro, Ph (55-21) 2410 1412
Further Reading
Burle Marx The Lyrical landscapes, by Marta Iris Montero, an insightful
and beautifllu illustrated book, with excellent location maps and keyed
plans of schemes.
View of Burle Marx’s landscape architecture studio
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Practice Profile
STEPHEN DIAMOND & ASSOCIATES
Having graduated from the undergraduate degree and post
graduate diploma in landscape architecture at Manchester
Metropolitan University, Stephen returned to Ireland in 1994
to work at Belfast City Council for a period of two years while
studying towards full membership of the Landscape Institute.
Completion of the Part IV examinations in 1996 signalled a
need for change in direction and a preference to work in private
practice. Acceptance of a job offer with CSR brought Stephen to
Dublin where he remained for four years until the formation of
Stephen Diamond Associates (SDA) in July 2000.
SDA was established as a design orientated practice committed
to the development of site generated proposals to promote
interaction with and connection to the landscape. Particular
attention is given to site analysis and the development of strong
conceptual design to be carried through to a built form.
UCD Industrial Centre, by kind permission of Stephen Diamond & Associates
The practice ethos is to engage in a progressive approach,
pursue the use of appropriate modern materials and innovative
uses for conventional materials. To deliver highly considered
spaces that subtly impose a new function and aesthetic. Bold
and informed solutions, distilled to minimal composition, emerge
from the land with an atmosphere of permanence and solidity.
river Shannon
excavated water course
island of retained alder
floodplain
reclaimed land
existing road
The practice works in a studio environment and currently
employs three full time landscape architects.
A number of projects have recently started construction on site.
These include a new public square along Simmonscourt Road,
designed to connect The Anglesea and Simmonscourt sites of
the RDS; Carrick on Shannon Town Park; The AIB Bankcentre in
Ballsbridge; Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology
and Phase 2 of The UCC West Campus Masterplan. Construction
is nearing completion on a project to connect Belfield House with
The UIC/Engineering buildings at UCD. Further projects at UCD
include Roebuck Hall Residence and the first phase of a 6.5km
‘Boundary Woodland Track’.
Carrick on Shannon Town Park, by kind permission of Stephen Diamond & Associates
Looking to the future SDA strive toward the continuing
development of an innovative and unique approach to landscape
architecture and providing motivation, professional growth and
personal development for staff.
Aras na Laoi Masterplan UCC
by kind permission of Stephen Diamond & Associates
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Iris oifigiúil Institiúid Ailitirí Tírdhreacha na hÉireann, Earrach 2006
LANDSCAPE
Weblinks
Cabe Space, Manifesto for Better Public Spaces:
Log on to
www.itsyourspace.org.co.uk
to review and possibly sign up to the Manifesto for Better Public
Space
Cabe Space is part of the Commission for Architecture and
the Built Environment (CABE) set up in May 2003; which is
funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (UK). CABE
champions excellence in the design and management of urban
and green spaces.
Galway
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Landscape Architect
MOVING WEST?
Are you a Landscape Architect looking to
Move West?… Move On?… Move Up?
Keville & O’Sullivan Associates, a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy
based in Galway City, is seeking to recruit a Senior Landscape Architect to
head-up a new landscape architecture division.
The new division will combine the skills and knowledge of our existing staff, with
the professional experience and expertise of landscape architects to bring the
traditional services offered by the profession to a new level. The successful
candidate will join and lead a team of environmental scientists, ecologists,
graduate landscape architects and AutoCAD technicians to develop a unique
suite of services.
Applicants for the position should have at least three years post-graduate
professional experience in the field. The successful candidate will have
significant business development and project management responsibilities and
must demonstrate they have the ability, experience, ambition and drive to take
on such a role. An attractive salary and benefits package will be offered to the
appropriate applicant.
Prospective candidates should e-mail brian@kosconsulting.com with details of
their educational background and professional experience. All enquiries and
e-mails received regarding the available position will be considered in the
strictest confidence.
Keville & O’Sullivan Associates Ltd.
Unit 24, Galway Technology Centre
Mervue Business Park, Galway
T:091 704856 F:091 704876
www.kosconsulting.com
s
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LAND PLANNING & DESIGN
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CLASSIFIEDS
OPPORTUNITIES
IN IRELAND NATIONWIDE
CUNNANE STRATTON REYNOLDS
Go Play Ltd. is a specialist company focused on children’s play. We
are market leaders in the field of playground equipment. We supply
unique and interesting high quality public playgrounds and activity
toys for children.
Playground Designer – GALWAY BASED
Due to continued growth and expansion, a new opportunity exists
within our company; we are now seeking to hire a playground designer as part of our design team in our GALWAY office.
As part of the Go Play team, responsibilities will include the following:
- Liase with customers and the sales team in relation to customer
requirements
- Choose and locate equipment within the playground design
- Choose surface types and designs
- Complete quotations within budget and within required timeframe
- Develop relevant software and specify requirements
- Support on-site queries
- Assist with the development of relevant related marketing material
- Improve the design process
Requirements: - Experienced use of AutoCAD 2d and 3d, Imaging Software.
- Background in landscape architecture advantageous
- Knowledge of 3d Studio Max an advantage
- Strong academic background in design
- Must be child centric
Please apply by sending your CV to
Anna Gallagher at the following address
Senior Landscape Architect
-Dublin
Project
Landscape
Architects
-Cork and Galway
Graduate Landscape Architects
-Cork and Galway
Student Internship Posts
-Dublin, Cork and Galway
Cunnane Stratton Reynolds is a national multidisciplinary practice of Landscape Architects,
Urban Designers and Town Planners with offices
in Ireland in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Recent growth has created opportunities for
enthusiastic professionals at a range of levels in
our Dublin and Cork offices as well as a unique
opportunity to be part of our new and developing
Galway office.
Cunnane Stratton Reynolds offer a pleasant and
supportive working environment and a competitive salary, training and career opportunities. The
practice is involved in a broad range of challenging landscape, planning and urban design
projects.
For an informal discussion please contact:
Declan O’leary at our Dublin office,
Jim Kelly at our Cork office,
Keith Mitchell at our Galway office;
To apply please submit your CV and A3
examples of your work, if appropriate, by post or
e-mail without delay to the Dublin office indicating which office(s) you are interested in.
.
Dublin: 3 Molesworth Place, Dublin 2
Email: info@csrlandplan.ie Tel: 01-6610419
Cork: Copley Hall, Cotters Street, Cork
Email: corkinfo@csrlandplan.ie Tel: 021-4969224
Galway: No 13, Galway Technology Park Parkmore, Galway
Email:kmitchell@csrlandplan.ie Tel: 087-9068673
www.csrlandplan.ie
goplayltdhr@gmail.com
Ph: 087-811 0566
Advertise in
LANDSCAPE Ireland:
products, jobs, classifieds etc.
c on t a c t ; ilieditor@mail.co m
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