MOLA is proud to have been featured in the ‘RIAI Architecture Ireland 2024’ issue, featuring the Canopy and Meetings Pods that formed part of the public realm enhancement. The Sustainable Meeting Pods The Meeting Pods are located within The Campus, Cherrywood and offer biophilic inspired meeting spaces for the business park tenants, nestled within the tree canopy and adjacent to the lake. The pods harness renewable energy through solar panels and wind turbines and battery storage, acting as micro-generation power stations. As part of the sustainable Cherrywood masterplan, they exemplify interdisciplinary collaboration, advanced design strategies, and sustainability. Each pod is highly energy-efficient, producing 300% of its energy needs, while surplus energy is redirected to the sitewide external lighting. Pods feature elevated concrete columns, insulated internal concrete slabs for diurnal temperature control, and natural cross ventilation. Meeting the objective of fostering interaction and well-being in a biophilic environment, the pods demonstrate sustainable practices in harmony with their natural environment. Cherrywood Canopy and Biophilic Sunken Garden In collaboration with Murray and Associates Landscape Architects, the Cherrywood Canopy and Biophilic Sunken Garden provides an innovative and sustainable approach to the enhancement of the Cherrywood public realm. Centrally located on the main public pedestrian link between Cherrywood Town Centre and the greenway, within the Cherrywood Business Park. The sunken garden provides a place for refuge for colleagues to meet, and for people to interact and share ideas, while enjoying the benefits of being within a natural biophilic environment. It also provides a vertical link and meeting hub between the underground car park and access to the office buildings above. The use of timber, as the main canopy structure, demonstrates how this natural material can be used to create contemporary, sustainable environments, which promote well-being and interaction.
