Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) is a third level educational campus located in Dun Laoghaire, south Co. Dublin.

SDA were appointed to develop a landscape strategy which, together with the Media Cube building by Murray O Laoire Architects, would announce the campus frontage along Kill Avenue and distinguish it from its suburban surroundings.

The concept for the design was developed as an abstract painting, comprising of a monolithic form bisected by dynamic strips of colour to place emphasis, connect and inform. This initial idea evolved into the built form of a striking field of Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’ which morphs in colour, texture, movement and luminance, bringing the landscape to life throughout the seasons. Strips of flowering perennials were applied as bold brush strokes through the Calamagrostis to channel views and stitch the campus into its context. These single species bands of colour bisect a low granite wall, set within and diffused by Calamagrostis, to present an open and welcoming campus frontage. The breaks in the wall address the level difference along Kill Avenue.

A tall strip of Miscanthus planting, mood-lit with LED spotlights, establishes a strong visual link connecting the Media Cube and its geometry directly to the administration building entrance. Further strips of perennials flank and establish a dialogue with the Miscanthus, to extend the new landscape into the main body of the campus.

ASouth-orientated granite benches define the Media Cube entrance along a large granite piazza, offset from the building by a block of Calamagrostis in reference to the boundary landscape. A second smaller piazza is positioned adjacent to the Media Cube gallery, with seating provided as a resting place to the boundary footpath.

Views of the Media Cube car park are screened from the public road by an earthen bund of native Willow, with a grid composition of Bamboo integrated with the parking spaces to further soften the visual impact of the car park.

A network of golden gravel paths extend the Media Cube geometry through the wider landscape. This geometry is re-enforced by columnar oaks, indirect lighting columns along the new access road and light pillars to the principal pedestrian access. Small ground level cube lights extend east and west as a volumetric reference to the Media Cube building.

Engraved granite plaques set within a frame of granite setts name the adjacent strip of perennials and bridge the pathway as it bisects the bands of flowering perennials.

New walks and cycle paths enlivened by extensive tree and shrub planting have been provided throughout the campus to integrate with and conserve the site’s sylvan character.