In Arklow, a town in the Irish province of Leinster, a new public infrastructure for treating sewage is the work of the firm Clancy Moore Architects, which won the invitational competition called for the purpose. The facility was designed in close collaboration with engineers, urban planners, and members of the local community.

Long lacking an efficient system for wastewater treatment, Arklow faced a serious problem of polluted rivers and coasts. The situation jeopardized both its ecological balance and its potential for urban growth. This new infrastructure does not only address what was a critical need, but does so in a way that respects the environment and the town’s urban identity.

Centrally located and environmentally sensitive, the building was designed with a focus on minimal intervention. Digging deep would have altered the already polluted ground, so the components were built above ground level, vertically stacking the processes to optimize use of the terrain. Thanks to the harnessing of gravity in the flow of water, only a pump was needed, and photovoltaic panels on the roof compensate for energy consumption.

The architecture of the complex is characterized by its wrapping of louvers which, besides distributing air and regulating odors, conceal the operational systems and serve as habitats for birds and bats. From up close, this skin reveals a design rich in character and detail.

Built mostly in reinforced concrete, with steel structures and green-toned fibercement facades, the plant engages in dialogue with Arklow’s industrial past while projecting a vision for a sustainnable future. Finally, the design is expected to alllow the floors to grow progressively, in tune with urban expansion and the renaturing of the site.