Ceannt Station Quarter
Encyclopedia
The Ceannt Station Quarter is a planned urban
quarter for the city of Galway
, County Galway
, Ireland
. As the name suggests, the new district will be built around the city's rail station - Ceannt Station
- which itself is going to undergo a major redevelopment as part of the project.
systems and solar panel
s, as well as using architecture to provide both heat and light naturally to areas both outside and inside buildings.
The area will be built, outdoors, on various levels; which will maximise the use of space.
The site will be arranged in the follow way:
In addition, existing buildings, particularly historical ones, will not be demolished, but rather redeveloped and made habitable. This is to preserve Galway's existing traditional architecture.
The quarter is a key link in linking Galway's three major bodies of water, Lough Corrib
, Lough Atalia and Galway Bay
(the harbour).
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
quarter for the city of Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. As the name suggests, the new district will be built around the city's rail station - Ceannt Station
Galway railway station
Galway railway station serves the city of Galway in County Galway. The Station itself is located in the centre of the city in Eyre Square. The station is to be redeveloped in the near future, as part of the Ceannt Station Quarter project.The station opened on 1 August 1851...
- which itself is going to undergo a major redevelopment as part of the project.
The Site
Currently, Ceannt Station takes up an area of 0.99 hectares; this is to be extended to around 2.17 hectares. However, the site takes up an area of 5.97 hectares; and the new 'urban quarter' will take up 3.80 hectares (64%) of this land, while the station takes up 2.17 hectares (36%).Railway Station Redevelopment
Ceannt Station will undergo a major redevelopment, given it the most modern transport hub on the island of Ireland. The current two railway platforms will be upgraded to three to cope with the addition of commuter rail services in 2008/09. Bus services also form a major part of this, with 25 bus bays to be positioned next to the rail platforms. A taxi rank will also be located immediately outside the station; and car and bicycle parking will be located near to the station as well. The station will be designed in 'cathedral' style, with a fully glass roof providing natural light as well as heat in the winter months, and reducing it in summer.The Urban Quarter
This takes up most (64%) of the site, and will be built on what is now derelict railway works. The area will be environmentally friendly and partially (if not fully) self-sufficient, using greywaterGreywater
Greywater is wastewater generated from domestic activities such as laundry, dishwashing, and bathing, which can be recycled on-site for uses such as landscape irrigation and constructed wetlands...
systems and solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
s, as well as using architecture to provide both heat and light naturally to areas both outside and inside buildings.
The area will be built, outdoors, on various levels; which will maximise the use of space.
The site will be arranged in the follow way:
- Cultural Facility: 490 square metres.
- Community facility: 870 square metres.
- Creche: 1,340 square metres.
- Fitness centre 1,390 square metres.
- Public Park: 5,800 square metres.
- Public Square: 5,870 square metres.
- Private communal space: 6,540 square metres.
- Public Streets: 8,030 square metres.
- Hotel: 15,000 square metres.
- Commercial (offices): 19,830 square metres.
- Retail: 32,680 square metres.
- Residential (573 units): 49,520 square metres.
- Car Parking: (1,390 commercial, 500 public): 57,350 square metres.
In addition, existing buildings, particularly historical ones, will not be demolished, but rather redeveloped and made habitable. This is to preserve Galway's existing traditional architecture.
The quarter is a key link in linking Galway's three major bodies of water, Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib
Lough Corrib is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in Ireland . It covers 178 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.The first canal in...
, Lough Atalia and Galway Bay
Galway Bay
Galway Bay is a large bay on the west coast of Ireland, between County Galway in the province of Connacht to the north and the Burren in County Clare in the province of Munster to the south. Galway city is located on the northeast side of the bay. It is about long and from to in breadth...
(the harbour).