LONDONDERRY PARK
Client
Ards and North Down Borough Council
Completion
2015
GPS
54°35'15.8N 5°41'00.4W
AWARDS
RSUA Award 2016: Shortlisted
This project enhances Londonderry Park in Newtownards, providing modern competition and community standard sports facilities whilst maintaining the informal nature of the existing parkland. Site access was improved through a new dedicated entrance with car parking directly from the Portaferry Road, a main arterial route along the North Down Peninsula.
The facilities incorporate a new pavilion, two FIFA standard synthetic football pitches, one international standard synthetic hockey pitch, a cricket compound, public toilet facilities to the existing children’s play park and a site trim trail.
The pavilion provides the primary social and changing facilities and is centrally located to support all users. The building encourages a visual relationship, providing uninterrupted views across the pitches, the wider parkland and beyond to Scrabo Tower. The building retains a strong pavilion architectural aesthetic and connects with the parkland setting through the use of iroko timber cladding which is contrasted against robust grey brick elevations and zinc clad roofs.