An Portach Ciúin

We had the privilege of creating the identity and signage design for An Portach Ciúin, a natural sensory garden situated at Lough Boora Discovery Park in Co. Offaly. An Portach Ciúin, meaning ‘The Quiet Bog’, was developed to be an inclusive space, open to all. Visitors are invited to take a deep breath in as they enter, allowing their everyday stresses to drift away as they soak up the sights and sounds of this peaceful place.

The logo was inspired by an old 20 foot diameter industrial wheel, that was once used in the peat harvesting process. To create the logo mark the negative spaces within the wheel shape were filled with an array of natural textures found at the bog, such as birch bark, butterfly wing, leaf, feather, etc. This visually symbolises looking through the past into a future where our connection to nature is cherished.

The signage was consciously designed to utilise what would otherwise be obsolete objects left over from the bog’s industrial past. The curated artefacts include bog train tracks and sleepers that were reconfigured and lasercut to produce pointer signs, and a large circular turntable, which was used to house a welcome/info sign. This repurposed, rusted steel wayfinding system blends sympathetically into the landscape, honouring both the industrial heritage and a sustainability-focused future.