Public Choice Award
Shortlisted Project:
Tallaght Zip & Plaza
Project: Tallaght Zip & Plaza
Architect: Seán Harrington Architects
Commissioned by South Dublin County Council, Tallaght Zip is a dedicated pedestrian and cycle route in Tallaght in west Dublin, linking the main shopping quarter and the LUAS terminus at one end with the Institute of Technology at the other. Currently 500 metres long, it is planned to extend it further eastwards to link with Tallaght Village and the surrounding residential neighbourhoods - zipping together the two disparate parts of central Tallaght.
In an otherwise traffic-dominated urban environment, the Zip offers a high quality footpath for pedestrians, with a parallel and separate cycle lane, running on an east west axis, with a planted “green” wall all along the northern edge. This helps to visually screen the many different kinds of existing boundary conditions along the length of the Zip, to give a uniform and continuous enclosure. It also creates a sheltered, south-facing promenade, along which are many seats, backing onto the green wall, facing the sun with views to the Dublin mountains, and positioned as far away from the busy traffic as possible.
