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A Project for Paraic Inis Óirr, Aran Islands, Galway

Part 2 Project 2012
Laura O'Gorman
 Queen's University Belfast | UK



This design project is the fruit of a close reading of the pattern language and idiosyncrasy of the fields and walls along the farm built by Paraic Póil and his family. It was through this reading that I arrived at an understanding of the Aran landscape.
Typical of any farm on the Aran Islands, Paraic’s farm is derived from the ancient ‘Baile’ land division system which divided land into self sustainable units.
The design thesis proposes three structures along Póils farm, to aid in supporting the self sustainability of his lifestyle.

The first site is at Póil’s seaweed collection plot Trácht Míchel. The proposal is for a seaweed drying structure and intertidal pool.

The second site is Creig na nGabhar, a field in the middle of Paraic’s farm. The proposal is for a large combined rainwater collection structure and greenhouses. The greenhouse would allow Paraic to grow exotic fruit and vegetables that are otherwise unavailable on the island. The roofs of the greenhouses collect water and deliver it into a large tank. This fresh water is then available to the farmers in Ceathrú an Chaisleáin to bring to their animals in the surrounding fields. The tank has the capacity to store a two month supply of fresh water for seventy cows. The structure is a room within a room, but appears as object from the horizon.

The third site is to the North of the island where inhabitation occurs. It is a proposal for a farmstead with a kitchen garden and apiary. The farmstead sits directly on the threshold of inhabitation, between the houses and the fields. The design is informed by the spatial experience of walking through the laneways and fields with regard to spaces as rooms, objects in space and visual prospect

For the interior of the house I have designed and constructed a three-legged stool for Paraic. The stool is to sit in the hallway of the house and is custom designed for removing and putting on shoes. The back leg is expressed on the seat for the comfort of placing a foot upon.


Tutor(s)
2012
Paraic Poil's Farm
Typical Day on Inis Oirr for Paraic Poil
Paraic Poil arrives at Traicht Maichel, the Poil seaweed gathering plot, at low tide
Seaweed is gathered and laid to dry upon the East side of the structure
Fresh water is collected for the cows from the rainwater collection greenhouse structure at Creig na nGabhar
Exotic fruits and vegetables in the greenhouse are tended to while collecting the fresh water
From across the overflow tank, Paraic checks the weather approaching on the horizon
Paraic returns up the Chaisleiin road back to the farmstead
Paraic Poil's fields and laneways at the back of the farmstead
Paraic returns to farmstead for afternoon tea
Paraic tends to the potatoes and cabbages in the kitchen garden
Honey is extracted from the bee hives and put into jars
From the kitchen Paraic is seen coming through the garden through the living room window
Return to kitchen and remove shoes on the stool
Hallway stool made and designed for removing and putting on shoes
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