Charged with transforming a neglected urban island into an engaging park, we drew on the ecological history of the island for inspiration to increase its biodiversity and create a “living island.” This meant configuring new topographies to allow the water to again interact with the island.  These features diversify the ecology as well as and generate a sense of place, nurture strong spiritual attachments to the island’s beauty, seek balance and harmony between constructed and natural elements, and provide opportunities for life-enriching experiences. New amenities, including a no-impact boardwalk and pedestrian passages and plazas, connect visitors with the natural dynamic processes of the river. The center of the island was restored as a bio-diverse and tranquil area of natural habitat. By allowing the 30-acre park to interact with the seasonal flow of the river, new ecologies were opened to human exploration, a more diverse habitat was created for animals, and the island’s flood-resilience was increased.

To find out more about St Patrick’s Island, click HERE.