Finian McCarthy - Lucan Demesne Park

Lucan Demesne Park Connection Across the River Liffey L ARC40390 - L andscape St udio 4A - Finian McCar t hy

Contents Contents............................................ 1.

Analysis............................................. 4.

Historic Demesne 5.

Lost Connection 6.

Context Analysis 7.

Park Photographs 9.

Trans-axial Connection 11.

Concept............................................ 14.

Concept Map 15.

Bridge Connections 16.

Park Extention 17.

N4 Entrance 18.

Design.............................................. 20.

Connectivity Design Plan 21.

Bridge Connections 23.

Park Extention 25.

N4 Entrance 27.

Materials Plan 29.

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A river can be a uniting or dividing feature in a landscape.

Making connections across the Liffey can unite divided spaces and bring communities together.

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Analysis

Historic Demesne

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OSI Historic 6 Inch Map 1829 - 1842 Scale 1:10,000 5

at A3

Lucan Demesne was once much larger than we see it today. Over the past centuries, parts of the historic grounds have changed including the very eastern end being given to the Ambassador for Italy, and other sections of the park now being used for various

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other means such as golf cources and agriculture. Paths once lead from Lucan House all the way along the river as far as Leixlip. Unfortunately, the changes in land ownership resulted in this river walk being cut off at the very Eastern end of Lucan Demesne Park

Lost Connection

Though the construction of the N4, the transfer of land ownership in various parts of the demesne, and the lack of attention given to pedestrian travel, the towns of Leixlip and Lucan have become detatched from one another.

The connection that previously existed

between the people of Lucan and Leixlip will be the driving factor behind many of the design decisions made in this project. This project will use Lucan Demesne Park and St Catherines Park to connect the people and facilities in the respective towns.

St Catherines Park

Leixlip Pri va

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Liffey Valley Golf Course

Lucan

N4 Lucan Demesne Park

Italian Ambassadors Residence

OSI Digitalglobe 2011 - 2013 Scale 1:10,000

at A3

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River Forest Glendale / Newton Est.

Ryevale Est.

Laraghcon Est.

Weston Est. Beech Park Ardeevin Est. 7

Hillcrest / Woodview Est.

Attractions/Facilities

Recreation Facilities

Movement

Primary Paths

Entry Points

Primary Entrances

Car Parks

The recreational facilities in St Catherine’s Park are disconnected from Lucan Demesne Park by the Liffey.

Lucan and Leixlip residents would all benefit from the playgrounds, walking trails and car parks being connected.

The bridge at the water treatment plant is extremely hidden on both sides of the river with very narrow, dark paths leading to it. This disconnect creates two distinctly separate walking trails which, through the addition of bridges, could unite these walking trails into one.

The entrances to the two separate parks have the potential to facilitate the connection of Lucan and Leixlip, however it seems incomplete. The natural lines of movement in Lucan Demesne Park leads the user towards St Catherine’s park.

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The river landscape in Lucan Demesne Park is extremely attractive, with views of long stretches of of the Liffey and its beautiful green surroundings. The opposite banks look enticing from the south side of the river, however there is no obvious crossing point where park users can explore St Catherines Park and its facilities.

Beautiful views along the Liffey

Consistent views of St Catherines Park 9

View of woodland walk from Lucan Demesne Park

The main entrance to Lucan Demesne park is extremely narrow with very little indication that a beautiful landscape along the River Liffey lies beyond. The near-by N4 and it’s slip road cause a lot of noise causing the car park to feel unsafe for pedestrians as paths are narrow and no cycle lanes are present.

Pedestrian entrance is hidden

No clear or safe access for pedestrians

Loud N4 slip-road feels extremely close with only a small separation

Narrow road leading to park entrance.

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Trans-axial Connection

T. U. Dublin Broadstone

Primary Axes of Movement Space Previously Disconnected from Surroundings Connecting Intervention

Dodder Valley Park R. Dodder N81

TU Dublin Grangegorman

Millbrook Lawns

Broadstone Entrance Plaza

TU Dublin Bolton St.

R. Liffey

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Dodder Valley Park East

Connecting T.U. Dublin for pedestrians through the City Centre

Firhouse Dodder Valley Park West

Connecting two sides of the park with the surrounding neighbouhoods

The main axes of movement in Dublin generally radiate from the city centre.

These radial patterns allow for movement along these axes to or from Dublin. This has a significant effect on the movement of people as the movement patterns make it difficult to travel across the axes.

Below are some examples on connections that have been made accross some of these primary routes, in an aim to connect the spaces that lie on either side of them. Lucan Demesne Park has th epotential to asct as one of these connecting elements.

Bushy Park

Lucan Demesne Park Leixlip

St Catherines Park R. Liffey

Bushy Park

N4 Brookvale Est.

Lucan Demesne Park

Lucan

Fairways Est. R. Dodder

Connecting Bushy Park with people on to the South of Dodder View Road

Pedestrian connection is missing between Lucan and Leixlip

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Concept

Design Concept While researching Lucan Demesne Park and its surrounding areas I found 3 destict locations in the park where there seemed to be potential for new movement to be facilitated. This new movement would aim to connect the people of Leixlip and Lucan, as well as connect them to the facilities that exist in St Catherines Park and beyond.

Sites in question: • The existing N4 entrance.

• The northern-most part of the park as well as the bank of the river closest to the N4 entrance.

• The land extending from Lucan house to the N4 entrance to the park.

Bridge

Park Extention

N4 Entrance 15

Specific Site Location

Creating the connection between St Catherine’s Park and Lucan Demesne Park will in turn connect the people living in the housing developments in Leixlip and Lucan with eachother and the landscape.

The connection will allow for the sharing or services that already exist in each of the parks, such as the playgrounds and woodland walk in St Catherines Park and the play trail in Lucan Demesne Park.

Bridge Connections

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Wa l k

N4 Le

This proposed intervention aims to help the park reach further into the centre of Lucan, connecting its residents with the park and the historic landscape.

In this newly opened space will be an extended woodland walk along the Liffey, connecting to that in St Catherine’s Park.

p ixli

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The park will be extended down as far as Lucan Village, encouraging the residents of Lucan town to use the park for its facilities or as a connection to Leixlip and St Catherines Park. The land that it extends into is currently part of the residence for the Italian Ambassador. This new section of Lucan Demesne Park will hold a new river walk to attract more people to the main body of the park.

Connecting Lucan Village

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Lucan Demesne Parks primary car park is located directly beside the N4 slip road. As a result of this, the area is very heavy in traffic and can feel dangeroud for pedestrians and cyclists. The intimidating nature of the space has contributed to the lack of park usage by residents who live in the neighbourhoods not 100 meters away

The initial design idea for this space is to convert the car park into an entrance avenue for pedestrians and cyclist from the local surroundings. It is important for public space to be designed less for cars and more for people. For this reason, the underpass of the N4 will have a new adjacent underpass for pedestrians to allow for safer acces.

Safe Access under the N4

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Design

Connectivity Design Plan.

A . No r t h B r id g e B. Rive r Wa l k in g Tra il C. T h e So u t h B r id g e D. Ent ra n c e a t N4 E. Ent ra n c e a t L u c a n V illage

A.

B.

C. E. 21

D.

North Bridge - This is the primary connection between Lucan

Demesne Park and St Catherines Park. It will be a landmark in the area, attracting people from Lucan and Leixlip.

River Walking Trail - Connected by the two new bridges,

a looped walking trail will travel through both parks, crossing the Liffey and two points.

The South Bridge - This is the secondary connection

between the two parks. It connects to the south end of the St Catherines park woodland walk.

Entrance at N4 - This entrance at the N4 will be fully

pedestrianised and will be accompanied by a new pedestrian underpass for safe access to the park for walkers and cyclists.

Entrance at Lucan Village - This historic entrance to

Lucan House will be incorporated into the park, connected by a walking trail.

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Bridge Connections.

The new bridges crossing the Liffey are located at two vitally important parts of the park where a connection to St Catherines park seemed to be missing. At the North end of the park will be located a large primary access bridge for cyclists and pedestrians, while the the South end of the park near the N4 entrance, will be a smaller bridge connecting

10m

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Lucan Demesne’s river walk with the woodland walk on the opposite bank. The two bridges will create a large looped walking trail approximately 2.5km long. The connection to St Catherines Park will facilitate pedestrian movement between Lucan and Leixlip, as well as allow the users of the parks to have access to their respective facilities.

Sou t h B r id g e

North Bridge

South Bridge

No r t h B r id g e

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Lucan Villege Entrance.

A significant part of this project will be to extend the park in an easterly direction towards Lucan Village. This park extention will cover roughly 35,000m2 with an entrance shared with that of Lucan House where the Itlaian Embassy is located. This portion of reclaimed park land is part of the historic Lucan Demesne from which the park gets its name.

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The new entrance to the park will use the historic workers entrance at the old stables and workers houses. The primary entrance to the Embassy on Main Street will be retained.

This entrance to the park will connect to a new woodland/river walk.

This river walk is one that existed before the Park and Lucan House were separated, as evidence from the blocked off path near the N4.

30m

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Entrance Avenue.

The design of the N4 enrance to Lucan Demesne park will incorporate a large portion of the space outside the existing car park, with a stone entrance avenue leading from the bus stop lay-by on the Old Cormill Road all the way to the entrance of the park. The avenue will lead under the N4 through an updated pedestrian underpass separate from the road and cycle

lanes. The stone paving will act like an entrance mat to entice passers by to enter the park and discover the valley of the Liffey. There will be signage to indicate the shape of the park and the services within, in an aim to inform people of the parks value. The space will be safe for cyclists with bike lanes in the underpass and bike racks in the main part of the entrance avenue.

A,

B A B

Ent ra n c e Ave n ue P lan

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4850

10600

1850

A ft e r.

Section B

4000

Scale 1:75 at A3

Before.

600 800

Section A

5600

16200

2500mm 5000mm

28 1000mm

Materials Plan Used for any walls, in line with the original walls around Lucan Demesne.

Cobblestone will be used at the entrances to define entrance avenues.

This will be used on the bridges, creating a theme with the rest of the county.

Red painted steel

Granite Cobbestone

Crushed Limestone

Granite Stone

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This material will be used as a paving texture around the parks walking trails.

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Finian McCarthy - 1 8 3 7 1 1 2 6 L an dsc a pe Studi o 4 A