Lucy Mandal Landscape Architecture Portfolio 2023

Landscape Architecture Portfolio

I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from University College Dublin.

What I love about landscape architecture is it allows me to combine my creativity with my interest in society and the environment. My background in social science has given me a keen interest in the psychology of space and understanding how users interact with an area. And since completing the course I have become passionate about ecology and incorporating nature-based solutions within designs.

During my internships I gained extensive knowledge and insight into the dynamics within the profession and what is expected of me in an office setting. I learnt the importance of time management, clear communication and working with a team. They helped me further develop my theoretical and technical skills which I am now eager to put into practice in a company which shares the same values as my own. I am confident my past experience will make a valuable contribution to your company.

English: Fluent Native

French: Conversational B1

Crampton Prize 2019

Honourable Mention, UCD Final Year Exhibition 2023

Can increasing the flood resilience of Monasterevin through nature-based solutions improve connectivity within the town?

Monasterevin is a residential town located in the south west of County Kildare, on the border of Laois and Offaly. It is known as the Venice of Ireland due to the intersection of the Grand Canal and the River Barrow to the west of the town. Although water is a prominent feature in the identity of Monasterevin, the town faces the challenge of frequent flooding due to its ecology and land use practices. The soil type of the town is predominantly peat which has been drained for agricultural use. Drained peat becomes impermeable creating water-logged conditions and making the town more susceptible to ground water flooding. Monasterevin is less affected by fluvial flooding of the River Barrow and more prone to surface water and ground water flooding caused by rainfall. When the town floods it disconnects the residents from the primary areas. I propose addressing these challenges using nature-based solutions such as sustainable urban drainage systems and bog restoration to absorb excess water. By using nature based solutions I am designing with the natural ecology and flood patterns of the area, rather than using traditional flood resistance measures, making the town more resilient to the impact of flood events.

Fluvial flooding occurs when the water level in a river, lake or stream exceeds capacity and overflows onto the neighbouring land.

Fluvial

Surface Water

Ground Water

Combined fluvial and ground water

Surface water floods occur when an urban drainage system is overwhelmed and water flows out into streets and nearby structures.

Groundwater flooding occurs when a natural underground drainage system is incapable of sufficiently draining itself. Groundwater flooding in Ireland occurs mainly on the limestone lowlands.

Disconnectivity due to Flooding

Flood Impact on Hubs

1864 Historic Map: introduction of Railway and Industry

1995 Town Develolpment

Present Day Development

Existing Circulation within Monasterevin

Proposed Circulation within Monasterevin

Hubs of Monasterevin

PHASE 1

PHASE 2

PHASE 3

Nature-based Solutions

Peatland Restoration

Bogs make up only 3% of the earths surface but store 30% of the worlds carbon - nearly double the carbon stored in the worlds forest’s combined. Restoring peatlands provide ecosystem services such as improving water quality, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, and amenity and education.

Collage of proposed restored bog

To restore peatlands you must ‘re-wet’ the bog, creating peat forming conditions.

Sustainable Urban Drainage

SuDS are drainage systems that manage rainwater to minimize flood risk, protect against water pollution, and promote ecological restoration and biodiversity.

Swales

Swales are shallow, flat bottomed, vegetated open channels designed to treat and attenuate surface water runoff.

Rain Gardens Detention Basins

Rain gardens are landscaped depressions that can reduce runoff rates and volumes, and treat pollution through engineered soils and vegetation.

Detention basins are surface storage basins that attenuate stormwater runoff.

This process is done by:

1. Damming drained peatland 2. Re-adding peat into cut away areas.

3. Implanting sphagnum moss into restoration area.

Turf to level to replant into drained, cut of burned area

Implanted Sphagnum moss

Timber dam

Replanted turf

Linear Park North: Bog Restoration

The linear park is designed to connect the residential estates to main hubs within the town, combining active travel and SuDS to improve quality and amenity of the area.

As the soil type is Peat, I plan to use the opportunity to create detention basins by restoring peat around the cycle and pedestrian pathways.

The north of the park leads you to the the south part via the railway station.

Section A

Section B

Arrows indicate water run-off direction

Level Crossing

Connecting the north and south end of the linear park is a level crossing. The cycle and pedestrian path posses corduroy tactile paving at the end to indicate the level crossing ahead. The railwayline is protected with level crossing barriers for when a train is present. This area also leads up to the railway station which can act a short cut to the canal also.

South Linear Park

South of the linear park continues toward the centre of the town and provides more amenity areas for users. Certain pathways become wider with seating to stay. And areas of amenity grassland are present for users to play on and enjoy.

Using native vegetation

Collage of South Linear Park

Arrows indicate water run-off direction

Cassidy’s Stream

At the beginning of Cassidy’s Stream the junction becomes completely blocked from surfacewater flooding in regular rainfall events. As the road is wide, I propose narrowing the road to give space to create a rain garden and pocket park at the end of the stream edge, providing amenity and storing excess water.

Arrows indicate water run-off direction

Cassidy’s Stream

Cassidy’s stream experiences severe flooding which negatively impacts the urban fabric the most in Monasterevin.

Collage of proposed design

The road is soely residential housing which is located closest to the main hubs of the town. Therefore I propose making the road a single carraigeway and extending a swale outwards from the wall of the stream to absorb and slow the flow of surface water flooding in this area.

Section H

Arrows indicate water run-off direction

The Spine

This area of development looks to enhance exisitng features rather than change the area.

Here, I added a verge which acts as a raingarden and added to single cycle lanes on either side of the carraigeway.

Outer Drier Bog

Linear Park South Rain Gardens

Inner Wetland Bog

Linear Park Swales

Corten bollards for entrances to park

Wooden lighting installments to light throughout linear park

Steet lighting within the centre of the town and along the residential streets

Street Life Rough & Ready benches for linear park and Rain Garden at Cassidy’s Stream

Bike racks and bins throught town and proposed areas.

The River Liffey Catchment: Shinkeen Stream

Context

Where the River Liffey leaves Kildare and enters County Dublin, are two Large Towns: Maynooth and Leixlip, and two Moderate Growth Towns: Kilcock and Celbridge. Kilcock, Maynooth and Leixlip have strong blue-green networks connecting them to Dublin City Centre.

The Royal Canal Greenway runs south of Kilcock and Maynooth and connects to Leixlip at the north of the town. At this point the Rye River intersects the Royal Canal at the Louisa Bridge railway station in Leixlip, and then continues into the River Liffey. The Leixlip Heritage Trail has been created along this corridor, which runs through Leixlip town, removed from vehicular traffic.

Before meeting the Royal Canal at Leixlip, the Rye River runs to the north of Kilcock and Maynooth. New residential developments in Kilcock have taken advantage of this natural feature and created active transport routes within estates for users, separate from the roads, to promote a safer and healthy lifestyle while assisting habitats and biodiversity, flood mitigation and river health.

Disconnect between Celbridge waterbodies and the Royal Canal and Leixlip Heritage trail

The connectivity through blue-green networks along waterbodies surrounding the towns

Celbridge

Celbridge is located south of Leixlip and Maynooth. The River Liffey runs through the town centre and meets the Rye River to the south of Leixlip town. Although Celbridge, Kilcock, Maynooth and Leixlip and all connected through various waterbodies, Celbridge is the only town which lacks the infrastructure to connect the town to the other blue-green networks.

Celbridge is currently the fastest developing residential area in Ireland. It has recently zoned 95ha for Objective F: open space and amenities. The remaining portion is zoned for GB: Greenbelt.

Nature-based Solutions

“Actions to address societal challenges through the protection, sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems, benefiting both biodiversity and human well-being.” – IUCN Nature-based solutions use the power of nature and functioning ecosystems as infrastructure to provide natural services to benefit society and the environment.

Waterbodies within the River Liffey catchment area provide natural infrastructure where we can implement nature-based solutions and improve connectivity between these spaces.

Lucan Limestone

Celbridge Local Area Plan

The LAP maps out 5 Key Areas of Development (KDA) sites. KDA 2: Ballyoulster is a 40ha site located east of Celbridge town with the Shinkeen Stream running through it. The Shinkeen Stream is a tributary of the River Liffey. This key area for development provides an opportunity to enhance the development with nature-based solutions while creating

Social and community infrastructure a connectivity route towards the River Liffey and the blue-green networks of Leixlip, Maynooth, Kilcock and Dublin. KDA 5: Simmonstown is located to the south-west of the site, where the Shinkeen Steam extends close to. Developing along the Shinkeen Stream could create a potential corridor to connect Simmonstown to the River Liffey in the future.

The site have chosen apply to the length of the Shinkeen Stream to add connectivity to a broader ranger of users than the area zoned for residential development.

Entry points along the site for future and existing residential users, and public access.

Road Access to Site

The stream adds connection to Simmonstown KDA Stream connects site to the River Liffey

Streamside: Riparian Buffer Zones

The inner par =t of the strean will contain a riparian buffer zone. The south west bank will be only riparian buffer zone and a woodland to protect and discourage future development too close to the stream.

Section A

Section B

Section C

Stream

Riparian buffer woodland

Riparian buffer woodland

Riparian buffer woodland

Riparian buffer woodland

Riparian buffer woodland Pathway

Stream

Stream

Middle Zone: Active Transport Route

The linear park will contain a playground and a wider local park at different points throughout the site.The linear park will be focused mainly on the east side of the stream

Middle-zone: Active Transport Route

Playground in Mangfall Park, Rosenheim, designed by A24 Landschaftsarkitecture

Outer Zone: Sustainable Urban Drainage

SuDS as swales will mark the outer zone and have the dual function of a pitch when dry.

Section B

Section C

Amenity grassland

Amenity grassland

Amenity grassland

Amenity grassland Swale

Swale