Making space in our constructed landscape

This text will look closely at the landscape, to understand the topography, ecology, climate and composition, exploring the relationship between land and water, mudfl ats, islands and the coastal boundary. It is my goal to explore the architectural quality of experience of place, and design an intervention which will be grounded culturally, ecologically and sensitive to our precious landscape. What interests me is the typology of building on the Irish landscape and how materials, function and a particular time and place dictate architecture of the locality. Culture evolves and changes over time. The architecture of the locality should refl ect these cultural changes. This will give new architecture a strong connection to local identity through echoes to its past culture and also by refl ecting the present. The is a need to increase appreciation of the Irish landscape as an element of national heritage to demonstrate its relevance in education and public policies and inspire fresh approaches and landscape study and management.