The site is located in Clonburris, West Dublin, within a neighbourhood that forms part of a new town centre development. Clonburris is designated as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), the result of an extensive process of public consultation, planning, and stakeholder engagement. The project is currently under construction and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The landscape design proposal aims to integrate Nature-based Solutions by placing SuDS and Biodiversity at the heart of the design strategy, as well as complementary aims such as amenity, beauty, universal accessibility and play – all in line with New European Bauhaus principles. The urban design layout incorporates a variety of SuDS measures into the streetscape and open spaces which channel runoff to a central Urban Park Space. The Urban Park Space provides a range of robust amenities integrated within the urban centre, becoming its focal point.
At the core of the design consideration for the Urban Park Space was incorporating a stormwater attenuation volume of 1600cu.m – i.e. the 1:100 year stormwater runoff, with allowance for climate change. The design proposes a carefully sculpted and accessible space which takes full advantage of the level difference; there’s amphitheatre-type seating focussing on a central open area which incorporates playful elements and a channel of water with biodiversity enhancements.
The water enters the basin park through a tiered series of wetland terraces. We have adopted a very visible “SuDS on Display!” approach to allow the community to engage and understand how the landscape has adapted to climate change. Spouts and weirs between levels will allow people to hear water splashing and see the movement, particularly after rain events so making a connection between rainfall and the animation of the landscape, the natural processes fed by rainwater. In some ways, this is similar to the interest created by a traditional water feature, but the biodiverse planting sets it apart in conceptual and biodiversity terms.
Biodiversity Net Gain is an aim of the project and monitoring / analysis is in place to inform the design as it develops. Throughout the site, all efforts are being made to enhance and encourage ecology and biodiversity, including enhancement of existing non-native plantations to the east of the site and along the train line to the north, biodiverse brown roofs on all apartment buildings, podium level roof gardens and communal courtyards, street trees with SuDS functionality.
