A 'multi-disciplinary architecture and urban design firm' based in London has won a competition to design a new park for Ballyfermot.
The Irish Architecture Foundation says Relational Urbanism inspired the judges with their "aesthetically appealing and well-considered design, which managed to balance sensitivity to the site and local context with world-class ambition for the new civic space."
The park, which will be created at Le Fanu Park - known locally as 'the lawns' - is expected to be completed by 2017. It has a budget of €500,000 and its impressive design will also combine a play area and skate/BMX park.
Enriqueta Llabres and Eduardo Rico from Relational Urbanism said they are "delighted to be able to develop this project further. So far the experience of working with the community has been great... We are eager to carry this process further and deliver a park which is both beautiful and meaningful to the people in Ballyfermot."
The Irish Architecture Foundation and Dublin City Council met with over 360 local people at picnics, play days, building design workshops and public meetings to outline plans for the park and take on board community suggestions, concerns and aspirations for this innovative community facility.
Ger O’Reilly of Ballyfermot Youth Services said the architects "really listened to our young people and took on board the community’s feedback in the second stage of the competition. They have come up with an amazing design that will no doubt be a huge success for Ballyfermot."
The Play Park project has been funded by The Matheson Foundation in partnership with Dublin City Council and the Irish Architecture Foundation.
Leslie Moore, Head of Parks Services, Dublin City Council, said the architects "proposed a visionary design for this Play Park and have demonstrated that they listened intently to both the jury and the community feedback after stage one of the competition process as that feedback is clearly evident in their design proposal."
Ballyfermot Play Park Design Competition Winner - Relational Urbanism, "One Park For All Ages" from Irish Architecture Foundation on Vimeo.
