den talamh Meeting Point, The project brief was to create a meeting point for talks on the environment and on the biodiversity within Tramore Valley Park. Conceptually, the building seeks to frame a view of Carroll’s Bog and draw the park visitor closer to observe and contemplate the beauty of this unique landscape within Cork city.
© Jed Niezgoda
The design for the EcoLab is deliberately rudimentary. A hoggin floor offers groups a platform to congregate. Two end walls and four columns made of rammed earth enclose the space.
© Jed Niezgoda
The process of “compacting earth,” albeit above ground, resonates with the recent history of the site’s use as a landfill, in creating a compacted landscape. An open timber-framed roof reveals a traditional Irish hipped roof structure, while a reed thatched roof finish offers shelter.
© Jed Niezgoda
Finally, the plan of the building references the architecture of a miniature temple. Thus, creating an agora for thoughts to be discussed and debated within the park landscape.
Project Info
Architects: Fuinneamh Workshop Architects
Country: Ireland, Cork
Area: 40 m²
Year: 2024
Photographs: Jed Niezgoda, Seán Antóin Ó Muirí
Design Team: Caimin Muldoon, Ciara O’ Connell
Office Lead Architects: Seán Antóin Ó Muirí
Civil And Structural Engineers: Civil and Structural Engineering Advisors
Earth Analysis: Dept. of Civil Engineering, MTU
General Constructing: Wiseman Construction Services, John Barron Thatcher
Construction Collaborators: Sean Ahern, Darragh Bairead, James Costello, Jim Fahy, Liam Harte, Conor Healy, Poppy Kilgallon, Michael Long, Jordan Lupton, Kate Madden, Jackie Maurer, Daniel McAuliffe, Owen MacSwiney, Dain McMillan, Peter Murray, Paul O’ Donovan, Jerry O’ Shea, Jerry O’ Sullivan, Mick Pierce, Daniel Quane, Kieran Ruane & Konrad Walczak
Client: LennonTaylor KinShip, Cork City Council & Creative Ireland
Thatcher: John Barron
Sophie Tremblay is a Montreal-based architectural editor and designer with a focus on sustainable urban development. A McGill University architecture graduate, she began her career in adaptive reuse, blending modern design with historical structures. As a Project Editor at Arch2O, she curates stories that connect traditional practice with forward-thinking design. Her writing highlights architecture's role in community engagement and social impact. Sophie has contributed to Canadian Architect and continues to collaborate with local studios on community-driven projects throughout Quebec, maintaining a hands-on approach that informs both her design sensibility and editorial perspective.