RIAI Participates in Design POP
  • 03 Sep 2021

RIAI Participates in Design POP

We were delighted to participate in this year’s Design POP festival in Cork with a panel discussion on the competition winning design for Bishop Lucey Park by Hall McKnight Architects. 

Architect Alistair Hall of Hall McKnight Architects gave an insight into the design approach, saying that the practice had looked for specificity and sought to create a distinct place in terms of atmosphere and urban context. He said that the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park would not be a singular experience but rather a series of connected environments or episodes, offering different experiences for different users. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image Caption: From LR Cork City Architect Tony Duggan, Architect Alistair Hall of Hall McKnight Architects and RIAI Director of Architecture and Communications Dr Sandra O’Connell.  

Cork City Architect Tony Duggan explained the fascinating history of Bishop Lucey Park and its significance as an urban room at a strategic location between Grand Parade, South Main Street, Tuckey Street and the River Lee. He said the Jury has been impressed with how the Hall McKnight design had treated the medieval wall as one of the main features, being the threshold between park and Grand Parade. 

Chaired by RIAI Director of Architecture and Communications Dr Sandra O’Connell, the panel also discussed the importance of quality urban space. Access to urban green spaces has become particularly pertinent for city dwellers during the pandemic, especially for those with no private outdoor space.  

Curated by Amy McKeogh MRIAI, Design POP is an architecture, design and food festival that celebrates creativity, collaboration and Cork city. Design POP took place from 27-30 August. It exposed the public to architecture, food and design through a series of architectural pavilions, events, talks and conversations. The event is about creating an atmosphere of wonder and joy in public realm spaces with pavilions and events popping up in different locations around Cork.

Supported by the RIAI. 

The full programme of Design POP can be viewed here