Photo by Shane Hynan
12th Field is a collaborative design practice between architects Evelyn D’Arcy and David Jameson. Their work explores ways that architecture can support human relationships with landscape, by creating new rituals and traditions, remembering social histories, examining new ecologies, and including local communities as co-creators in the process.
Their current area of research documents and classifies the physical nature of human engagement with the Irish wetlands, and how that might be transformed to support future relationships. This work has culminated in the production of practial and aspirational proposals for ways forward for communities during a great shift in the relationship between people and landscape, which remains woven into every aspect of rural life yet which must adapt to the changing realities of climate disruption. As part of this process, 12th Field has expanded into roles of research, mapping, advocacy, and creative design.
They have collaborated with the Irish Architecture Foundation on Reimagine Workers’ Villages; a project looking at the legacy of Frank Gibney’s innovative Bord na Móna workers’ housing, and Bog Bothy; a project working with peatland communities to create bothies as spaces for shelter, retreat and deep engagement with the landscape. Other ongoing work includes working with midlands communities to explore the novel ecologies and future potential of the industrial legacy in that region.
The name “12th Field” derives from the Peco method of harvesting peat. In this system, the bog was divided into parallel “fields”. Peat was transferred along five fields on either side to a central eleventh field, where it was gathered and taken off the bog by train. This process has transformed the bog landscape and will leave a lasting physical legacy. Beginning with their work with peatland communities and continuing to expand into other areas, they are now gathering memories, stories, information and skills – and the 12th field is the space where a new future vision of our relationship with the landscape will be realised.
Who are we?
In parallel with her work in practice as an architect, Evelyn D’Arcy has worked as a creative practitioner and project facilitator with various arts organisations since 2013.
She has produced a wide range of “design through co-creation” projects exploring themes of architecture with people of all ages, from pre-schoolers to retirees, in community and in school settings.
Evelyn is also a very occasional visitor to UCD School of Architecture. Details of some of Evelyn’s previous work can be found here.
David Jameson is an architect and founding member of tún architecture, specialising in educational and residential design and conservation.
David is a studio tutor in TU Dublin, in a vertical studio focusing on sustainable urbanism, housing, and the role of watercourses and biodiversity in cities.
He has previously worked with peatland communities, through the IAF’s Reimagine Workers’ Villages project, and school pupils in Tensta, Stockholm on the design of a new entrance to their school. Details of some of David’s previous work can be found here.
Photos by Shane Hynan
- Instagram: @12thfield