ASTNA SQUARE

Clonakilty, Co.Cork. 

This project was part of the Clonakilty 400 project which completely re-designed the towns historic Astna & Emmet squares. The recently transformed Astna Square, which has created a new hub in the town’s centre has won the Public Choice Award category of the Irish Architecture Awards 2014, run by the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland for Cork County Council Architect’s Department. Work on the project included extensive natural stone paving for pedestrian and traffic areas, shared surfaces together with resin material, surface water drainage, custom design street furniture and other urban design features, plus existing underground services were rationalised and additional services incorporated or upgraded to minimalise the risk of future excavations on the street.

The resulting design is a success on many levels; it recognises the need that the space be capable of functioning as a trading space and access route. It embraces modern design while incorporating the history of the town and beyond, it offers a functional space for locals and visitors to meet, sit and interact but most of all it ties of these facets together to produce an environment that is both beautiful and inviting.

For RKA, this project represented both a challenging and exciting opportunity to engage with the Architect and Contractor at an early stage to ensure that the Architects vision could be realised in an uncompromising yet economical way.