Diamond Park celebrates community spirit and innovative design by fusing spatial discovery and play with the provision of much-needed green open space in the heart of Dublin. Designed by the landscape architects, DFLA, the 0.4-hectare park brings a transformative approach to urban renewal with a focus on social integration, spatial connectivity, and biodiversity, serving as a major resource for residents, citizens, and tourists who visit the area in increasing numbers.
A Shared Vision
During the 18th century, development in the North East Inner City area was characterised by gentrification. However, by the mid-19th century, this impetus had slowed, and the area developed an unfavourable reputation. Tenement buildings on the site remained until an urban regeneration program in the mid-1980s led to their demolition and the site’s development into a public open space. The park was redesigned again in 2003 to include a children’s playground and an all-weather pitch which resulted in a layout of predominantly hardstanding surfaces. Over time, additional elements such as fitness equipment, seating, and tree planting were added and the park’s layout became fragmented. The facilities were dated and despite the park’s heavy use, it was failing to meet the growing needs of the community and wider users.
In response to these challenges, Dublin City Council (DCC) commissioned DFLA to re-imagine the park. The public were invited to join DCC, Dublin North East Inner City (NEIC), and DFLA in numerous workshops held at the park and other nearby locations. These workshops featured interactive activities allowing the public to express their desires for the new space. This process of co-creation was an integral part of the design process and allowed for collaborative effort which identified key considerations, including the need for diverse play opportunities, more versatile sports facilities, softer open spaces for relaxation and passive surveillance.
Spatial, Social and Environmental Factors
Today, the park’s boundaries blend seamlessly into the surrounding urban context. A lightweight fence offers a green façade to the street and ensures passive surveillance from both inside and outside. Within the park, universal design principles guide every aspect, from the gently sloping routes to pivoting gates that protect children from running into the surrounding streets.
A ribbon of activity which widens and narrows, wraps around a central green open space which accommodates day-to-day recreation but also has the capacity to cater for occasional events. A line of existing trees retained, cuts through part of the lawn to the east and makes way for a series of terraced sub-spaces with south-facing seats and lush planting. The meandering path along the periphery guides visitors along series of activity hubs. To the north, a three-storey play tower stands tall from a large play mound. Accessible from all sides and across multiple levels, it is the fulcrum of children’s activity in the park. A bridge connects to a large vertical maze to the west of the mound, offering multiple levels of fun in a compact space. Spiral slides, a toddler embankment slide, steps, viewing platforms and swings provide opportunities for dynamic play for children of all ages.
Inclusive and sensory-rich play facilities ensure that every child can experience the joy of natural play. From ropes, stone boulders, tactile surfaces, stepping stones in planting, and a water pump and channels, the park provides a myriad of sensory experiences that foster social integration and inclusivity and invite children to engage with the natural world on their doorstep.
The northern corner of the park hosts a multi-use games area with goals and basketball hoops. Coupled with terraced seating, two refurbished table-tennis tables and an informal basketball hoop arrangement along the eastern boundary by the Rutland National School, these features offer social and play opportunities for older children as well.
The new park invites exploration, encourages natural supervision and social interaction, and creates a safe community space where families can gather, play and connect in the heart of the city. A space has been crafted that meets today’s needs but also has the capacity to adapt to potential future demands. Diamond Park is more than just a park; it is a living testament to how thoughtful design and community engagement can revitalise public spaces, enriching the urban landscape and nurturing community bonds.
Location: Gardiner Street Lower, Mountjoy, Dublin, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Design year: 2018-2023
Year Completed: 2023
