Garraí Glas, located on the northern fringe of Athenry, Co. Galway, is a new residential development designed with almost half its area to open amenity space, positioning green infrastructure at the heart of the community. Studio Glasú was commissioned to develop the landscape masterplan, ensuring that the scheme enhances local biodiversity, integrates with Athenry’s townscape, and delivers meaningful open space for residents.

The site, historically used as agricultural land, had little existing vegetation and few features of ecological or aesthetic value beyond a traditional dry limestone wall along its southern boundary. The challenge lay in transforming this exposed low-value landscape into a thriving residential neighbourhood that meets Galway County Council’s requirements for amenity space while addressing ecology, biodiversity, and community needs. The design also had to balance multifunctionality — accommodating circulation, informal play, and drainage — while creating a distinctive identity rooted in the local context.

The landscape strategy establishes a hierarchy of interconnected open spaces, anchored by the Central Park that embodies Studio Glasú’s ethos of landscape as a bridge between people, nature, and design. Designed as a multifunctional heart of the development, the park integrates woodland planting, wildflower meadows, informal play, and recreational lawns, creating a living system that adapts and evolves over time. In line with our guiding principles, the design responds sensitively to context, enhances ecological networks, and fosters everyday community life.

The landscape design has transformed a former agricultural field into a connected, sustainable, and ecologically rich residential neighbourhood. The Central Park, in particular, reflects Studio Glasú’s commitment to context-driven design, sustainability, and collaboration: it offers a place for informal play and community gathering, while also acting as a vital ecological corridor. By treating the landscape as a resilient, evolving system, the project delivers long-term biodiversity gain, climate responsiveness, and a strong sense of place. For residents, it provides an accessible, welcoming environment rooted in Athenry’s character; for the town, it sets a benchmark for how suburban growth can be guided by ecological stewardship and thoughtful design.