The Morrisons Island International Design Competition

Save Cork City

Home / The Morrisons Island International Design Competition

Save Cork City ran a design competition for the quays of Cork in 2017 which attracted entries from all over Europe.

The winners were HH+ and Francis Keane Architects and whose design followed the brief closely and resulted in an elegant restrained approach to the question of public realm in a city like Cork. The winner and runners up each identified different considerations for landscaping in the city and in particular on the historic quays.

The designs investigated bridges, quayside railings, surfaces, connection with the city and of course the manner and quality by which new materials sat with and revealed the original historic fabric of the city quays.

For more information visit an Irish Examiner article on the competition here.

‘A city’s conserved historic core can differentiate that city from competing locations, branding it nationally and internationally, thus helping the city to attract investment and talented people.’
‘Heritage anchors people to their roots, builds self-esteem and restores dignity.’

from The Economics of Uniqueness - by the World Bank

“The Save Cork City Solution document ‘Potential Cork’ provides a detailed framework for a viable and sustainable solution to flood relief in Cork. It represents a truly considerate opportunity for the city."

Dutch (National) Flood Protection Programme
(Programmadirectie Hoogwaterbescherming)

Erik Kraaij - Flood Protection Deputy Director

“installing cut-off walls and a groundwater dewatering system at Cork is an experiment in separating two interdependent surface water and groundwater systems, which is likely to fail"
Ground and Groundwater Conditions at Cork
Implications for the Lower Lee Flood Relief Scheme

Anthony Beese BSc PhD PGeo CompIEI

With a view to giving rivers more space, they should consider where possible the maintenance and/or restoration of floodplains, as well as measures to prevent and reduce damage to human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

An assessment of the potential adverse consequences of future floods for human health, the environment, cultural heritage and economic activity.......including floodplains as natural retention areas, the effectiveness of existing man-made flood defence infrastructures (our Dams), the position of populated areas (our City), areas of economic activity (our City) and long-term developments including impacts of climate change on the occurrence of floods.

The EU Floods Directive 2007

Best Practice in Flood Relief

The OPW Walls scheme "could potentially damage the ability of the city to realise its obvious riverside potential and negatively impact on the attractiveness of the city as a location for inward investment and tourisn."

Cork Chamber of Commerce, Irish Examiner, 2014

"The beauty of the Quays is one of Cork's assets which should be jealously guarded"

Cork Town Planning Association & Cork Chamber of Commerce, 1925