The construction of the first phase of the design plan by OKRA landscape architects for the Marina Park in Cork will start soon. The new park is a central part of the Docklands on a 22-hectare site on the former Cork Showgrounds site.
The city of Cork on the south coast of Ireland is an old industrial town. Adjacent to the city centre and the nearby River Lee is a disused industrial area, a sports stadium and a nature reserve. A challenging context for the design of the new Marina Park.
A flexible park
In OKRA’s design plan, the storage of rainwater plays an essential role, not only for the park but also for the surrounding residential areas and future port developments. By creating space in the park for temporary water storage in times of extreme rainfall and future sea-level rise, a landscape solution is provided for urban changes. The water theme forms the carrier of the plan and combines natural wetlands with an event area and pleasant places to stay. The park surrounds the renovated Gaelic sports stadium and in the design structures of the former industrial estate are reused.
Water and landscape
OKRA’s integrated approach to landscape, water management and cultural heritage results in a balanced park with the complexity of water storage as one of its main features.