Baile Glas is the first ‘eco’ estate

Baile Glas is the first ‘eco’ estate in the country built for social and affordable housing. A joint venture between Avondhu Blackwater Partnership and Cork County Council the estate combines the vernacular architecture of the Cork Rural Housing Design Guide with Passive Housing Guidelines to create a modern highly efficient housing development that site comfortably into the existing vernacular environment.

The open space component of this development required a new design and interpretation for it to be relevant to the residents every day needs. In 2012 the residents group applied to Avondhu Blackwater Partnership to secure funding to redesign this aspect of the original design. Cathal O’Meara organized several workshops where these design issues were identified and addressed.

A communal seating and gathering area aims to provide a focal point to the green with boundary treatments and dense mass plantings to the car park aiming to strengthen the different elements to the design.