County Roscommon based architect designs new play park
Tom Bradford's winning design.
A Boyle based architect has won a Fingal County Council competition to design a new play park at Hazelbury Park, Dublin 15.
The competition was open to young business members of the Irish Landscape Institute.
Landscape architect Tom Bradford established his business, TBLA Landscape Architects, in 2023 with offices in Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Tom’s company also works on landscape design projects across Ireland and the UK. The team collaborate with local authorities, communities, architects, engineers, and suppliers to create landscapes that respond to people, place, and nature.
TBLA is guided by Tom’s lifelong passion for the outdoors and belief in the transformative role of landscape and nature in people’s lives. The design philosophy is collaborative, creative, and rooted in place. “We embed ourselves in the history, geology, ecology, and culture of each project, ensuring that our designs are both imaginative and practical. Our process moves from careful research and hand-drawn concept sketches, through community engagement, to detailed technical drawings and on-site delivery,” said Tom.
Kevin Halpenny, Fingal County Council’s senior parks and landscape officer said that the involvement of the Irish Landscape Institute allowed them “to access a wide range of creative ideas and new approaches to public play provision that take specific account of the site conditions in the park and the needs of the local community.”
Meanwhile, Tom Bradford added: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to connect local people to the landscape utilising fun and engaging playable spaces through an innovative nature-based approach”.
The proposed play area in Hazelbury Park has a strong commitment to inclusive design, sustainability, and biodiversity. The development will create high-quality, engaging spaces where children of all ages and abilities can play, explore, and connect with nature.
There is an emphasis on inclusive and accessible features, such as wheelchair access to play zones, ways, sensory zones and accessible sand and water play. Each site incorporates natural landscaping, pollinator planting, and will support biodiversity and climate resilience.
The proposed area will cover approximately 1,000m² and is designed as a multi-zoned nature-based environment promoting both play and community engagement.
