Corballis

Project type

Residential

Client

Glenveagh Homes Ltd

Location

Donabate, Co. Dublin

Content

330 units in total, 256 houses, 28 duplexes, 36 apartments, 1 creche

Status

Under Construction

Doran Cray Architects designed the scheme by retaining the existing hedgerows and ravine that run through the site, which are also the original boundaries of the small historical townland of Ballalease South.

The area where the boundaries meet also facilitates the east/west and north /south connection through the site, from these connections this area organically forms the heart of the development, relating back and taking inspiration from the old historical village green Sycamore Square in Donabate Village.

A large area of open space around the heart of the development was created, which extends northwards in a series of stepped landscaped areas inspired by the terraced stepped lawns of Lambay Island.

Doran Cray Architects collaborating closely with Proctor Matthews Architects developed the scheme by expanding the Sycamore Square concept across the masterplan lands creating urban ‘Clachans’ within the development.

Proctor Matthews Architects developed the urban ‘clachan’ concept, this concept of clustering dwellings around defined neighbourhood spaces where cars no longer visually dominate was inspired by the form of historic rural clachans, traditional clusters arranged around focal landscapes.

‘clachan’ meaning a small settlement or hamlet in Ireland.

A Clachan consists of a cluster of small single-storey cottages, originally built for farmers and/or fishermen and in some cases date back to the medieval times.

The clachans are distributed around the masterplan at key locations like stepping stones which provide points of interest within the scheme, acting as wayfinding points for pedestrians and traffic calming devices for motorists. They help to foster a sense of place and community for residents, providing opportunities for ‘doorstep play.

The layout and orientation of the scheme avails of the aspects and views available and ensures dwellings and areas of open space achieve quality light throughout the day. The layout improves connectivity with the proposed adjacent development to the west and encourages a healthy lifestyle by reducing the uptake of cars through new cycle and pedestrian networks.

Credits

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