Integrated Marine Economic Ecology Zone (IMEEZ)
Kilkieran, Ireland

This project—now in preliminary design and master planning—is the vision of Cleanfish CEO Tim O'Shea, a major U.S. distributor of high-quality farmed seafood products. The project originated with the directive to re-imagine an existing schematic design for a new fish-processing plant for the Irish Seafood Producers Group in the Galway region of Ireland, where the Irish Government had reserved 25-acres of seaside land to create a Marine Business Zone.

Tim's bold vision is to use the entire site—not just for a standard fish-processing and packing plant, but to include waste water reuse, energy generation and co-generation, a community restaurant and a range of complimentary enterprises including seaweed processing, fish feed innovation (using the regional waste stream) and an exhibit to educate about the regions' marine and terrestrial ecology.

Our preliminary sketches show a building that is fully integrated with its rolling hill site.

The extensive cold storage facilities are buried in the hillside, and the entire building is covered with a vegetative roof. Employees and visitors enter through an attractive visitor center/exhibit and café space. Unlike current packing plants, the building is lit with natural daylight and will be comfortable to work in.

The significance of this project goes beyond design, and demonstrates the true meaning of "The Triple Bottom Line" in which economic, ecologic, and social equity and cultural health issues are all part of the larger design.