Acorn Farm, Ebrington, Derry/Londonderry

Location: St Columb’s Park, near Ebrington Square, Derry/Londonderry

Size: n/a

Criteria: The Acorn Farm is a new development in Derry/Londonderry to grow and demonstrate from horticultural experts sustainable food systems throughout the city. The £6.2 million capital build programme at St Columb’s Park, near Ebrington Square allows for a unique urban growing space within the City. At the centre of the new development will be a 20m Geodesic dome which will allow for an exhibition space and an administration centre for staff.

The geodesic dome will create a flagship visitor attraction with an interactive visitor experience showing how food may be cultivated in a sustainable and carbon-neutral manner. A visitor will be able to enter the dome and ascend to the first floor where the gallery will offer views of the newly developed site and St Columb’s Park beyond.

Paul McAlister Architects are the Passive House Architect for the world’s first Passivhaus inside a Geodesic Dome. The original concept design was carried out by Murray Bell of Bell Architects whose design we have been responsible for seeing through the technical design and on-site construction phase.

The project is designed to sustainable standards with Ultra-low Passivhaus building fabric and the recycling of water throughout the site. The building within the dome is a world first as it will be the first certified Passive House structure within a glazed enclosure. The technical challenge of the structure and energy calculation has been a unique challenge and we look forward to the commencement on site in 2024.