‘den talamh’

The project brief was to create a meeting point for discussions on the environment and biodiversity within Tramore Valley Park. Conceptually, the building aims to frame a view of Carroll’s Bog, inviting park visitors to observe and contemplate the beauty of this unique landscape within Cork city.

The design of the EcoLab is intentionally rudimentary. A hoggin floor provides a platform for groups to congregate, while two gable walls and four rammed-earth columns enclose the space. The process of “compacting earth,” albeit above ground, echoes the site’s recent history as a landfill, transforming it into a compacted landscape.

An open timber-framed roof reveals a traditional Irish hipped roof structure, while a reed-thatched finish offers shelter. The plan of the building also draws inspiration from the architecture of a miniature temple, creating an agora-like space where ideas can be discussed and debated within the park’s landscape.