The fabric of built heritage – an urban study of Belfast City Centre | Wed 19 June, 12.30, Black Box, Belfast

City centres are dense and intense urban areas. In the last couple of centuries, many city centres have increasingly changed from industrial and residential to commercial and leisure spaces. These changes became more dramatic by the end of the twentieth century, affecting the way we use and perceive urban spaces and the buildings that bind them.

Belfast is no exception, and with the broad process of suburbanization and zoning since the 1970s the city centre has become a space of either retail or abandoned and derelict spaces. Within this process, much significant built heritage has become at risk of dereliction and demolition.

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The conservation and reuse of existing structures as part of an integrated urban environment is only now gaining momentum. Existing and abandoned buildings represent a substantially under-utilised resource, while adaptive reuse could play a pivotal role in the regeneration of the built environment. The combined study of urban morphology and architectural heritage provides an innovative approach to urban design, not only concerned with the preservation of buildings but with a holistic and efficient reuse in the context of streets and public spaces. The project investigates the existing urban fabric of Belfast through surveying and mapping the streets in the city and the buildings that bind them, analysing among others, proportions, materials, urban furniture, mobility and accessibility of both streets and buildings.

Through the study of streets, arcades, the high street and industrial buildings in Belfast City Centre, Erl Johnston, Sara Love, Eoin McKenna and Nicola Woods shed light on the significance of these spaces and structures for the livelihood of the city, while outlining the value of reuse and temporary use of important pieces of the urban fabric.

This lunchtime event will be held in the Black Box Green Room on Wednesday19th June at 12.30pm.

Stroke City Racing Research Workshops | Derry~Londonderry | Sat 18 & Sun 25 May 2013

Stroke City Racing is an exciting workshop led public arts project for the city of Derry-Londonderry and is part of the UK City of Culture 2013 program. It is a two phased project to reveal a Formula 1 racing circuit through the streets of the City of Derry, imaginatively manifesting a socially sited permanent monument which is at once visible and invisible, physical and ephemeral. 

There is a certain kind of monumentality to a race track. They are epics of speed, of space and of scale. They are immense spectacles of concrete and asphalt where legends are born. To enter such an arena is to be given the chance of becoming part of the mythology of the race track itself. To map out such a circuit on the streets of the City of Derry is to provide the opportunity for the spectator to step down from the grandstand and walk of the racing surface itself.

The project will be developed initially through research workshops during the first phase. It will be during these events that the map- ping of a suitable potential circuit will be discussed and elaborated through presentations, walking tours and cartography sessions. These will be attended by artists, engineers and urban designers, as well as motor racing fans, games geeks and other interested parties.

The second phase will take the final route from the research phase and develop this for delivery and distribution to the public. This will firstly take the form of a publication and map which will exist as a formal document officially prescribing the street circuit, a record with the potential to be fully certified. Secondly, (and subject to funding) the circuit will be developed into a fully playable race track for an off-the-shelf console game and will be freely available as downloadable content.

The overall aim of the project is to address and challenge the conception of a public art work. While the project will be essentially realised through ephemeral and virtual means, there will exist a ‘real’ albeit ‘invisible’ racetrack in the city streets permanently exposed to an everyday public. While the project will rely on newly made legacy and myth within the social fabric for its future, the race track itself will become part of the physical fabric and mythology the City of Derry.

The research workshops will be held on Saturday 18 May and Saturday 25 May in city centre venues in Derry-Londonderry. For further information and to reserve your place please email your details to info@daveloder.com. Attendance to both days is essential.

Marks of Time Exhibition | June 10 - 18 at The Playhouse Theatre, Derry~Londonderry

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Take Back Belfast Map Project Launches

Take Back Belfast have launched an interactive map of Belfast with points of interest open for contribution from the public and selected individuals and organisations (in the form of monthly featured submissions). The map aims to provide an alternative view of the city for visitors and citizens alike, and provide a platform for us all the share what we love about the city.

The points of interest can be any place in the city that the contributor considers to be overlooked, undervalued or off the beaten tourist trail; perhaps a building with an interesting history, a park with a story attached, or simply, somewhere you like. They can be illustrated with words, images or video. Take Back hope that the map will be used to explore and share an alternative vision of the city.

To view the map or make a submission visit: www.takebackbelfast.com.

PLACE Urban Design Charrette | Sat 11 May, 9am - 6pm

The PLACE Urban Design Charette is a multi-disciplinary approach to developing innovative and creative responses to challenging urban design issues. The emphasis is on working as a team to find best-practice solutions to real-world problems. This years site will be at the heart of the Cathedral Quarter and the schemes developed by participants will be judged by an expert panel with wide-ranging experience.

Develop your skills, meet new people, network, gain critical experience and receive expert mentoring.

Urban Design Charrette 2011

"A great opportunity to see the built environment through other’s eyes, and try new ways of approaching design challenges. I gained a deeper understanding of relevant issues and developed new skills."

So if you’re involved in Architecture, Planning, Landscape or a related field, register your place today!

Location: 25 Donegall Street, Belfast

Date: Saturday 11 May 2013

Time: 9am - 6pm

Tickets: £15 per participant, including breakfast and lunch.

Book Online: http://2013urbandesigncharrette.eventbrite.com/

(If you'd like to participate but aren't sure if you've got the right background, just contact us to discuss: info@placeni.org)

In association with ard ciaran mackel architects

Forum for Alternative Belfast present 'Belfast / a method' at Golden Thread Gallery

Golden Thread Gallery invites you to get a bird’s eye view of the city. Belfast/ a method is an exhibition by The Forum for Alternative Belfast, a community interest company that campaigns for a more connected built environment for the city of Belfast and its people.

FAB's City Model.

Meeting the Challenges of Community Planning in the Age of Austerity | Friday 3 May, 10am - 4pm at UUJ

Students and staff of BSc Hons Community Development are holding a Community Planning Conference at the University of Ulster Jordanstown.

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The keynote speaker, Mae Shaw (University of Edinburgh), will draw on lessons learnt from the Scottish model of community planning to challenge us to reflect on the issues and challenges for the community, voluntary and statutory sector in implementing community planning in Northern Ireland.

The conference will also draw on local case-studies to highlight some of the benefits of adopting a community planning model. Gavan Rafferty (School of the Built Environment, University of Ulster) will talk about local examples of Community Planning in practice.

The Conference will include three themed workshops.

Date: Friday 3 May, 11am - 4pm
Venue: Room 8K14B, Jordanstown Campus, University of Ulster

For further details and to book a place please contact Dr Rosemary Moreland 02890 368333 or email rj.moreland@ulster.ac.uk.

The Academy of Urbanism Annual Congress | The Producer City - an urbanism for the 21st century? | 15 - 17 May 2013

Taking the theme The Producer City, delegates from a wide variety of disciplines and locations will assemble to explore how post-industrial towns and cities can forge new roles for themselves. Studying one of the UK’s leading examples, we will learn how Bradford has re-discovered its productive edge by combining creative processes with technology, placemaking and international marketing.

The Congress will draw inspiration from a range of UK and European speakers addressing the challenges of the 21st century productive city, focusing on creative analysis and practice around the economics of place, the culture of place, the shape of place, and the competitiveness of place. We will consider the role of heritage in guided tours of the city centre and Saltaire village, as well as the impact of digital urbanism in this, the world’s first UNESCO City of Film.
In a participatory learning exchange over the three days, Academicians will contribute their expertise to Bradford’s emergent City Plan thinking and policy formulation, adding value to our host city, in exchange for transferable ideas to apply elsewhere. 

Credit: www.academyofurbanism.org.uk

The Academy of Urbanism Annual Congress

The Producer City - an urbanism for the 21st century?

Bradford

15-17 May 2013

For more information and to book your tickets, visit www.academyofurbanism.org.uk

DSD suspend Phase 2 and refocus on Phase 3 of Belfast Streets Ahead

The second phase of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme (North, East and West of Belfast City Hall) has been suspended by DSD Minister McCausland as work refocuses on the third phase of the Belfast Streets Ahead programme (Royal Avenue, York Street (to its junction with Frederick Street), Frederick Street, Upper North Street, North Queen Street (part), the environs around St Anne’s Cathedral, Cathedral Gardens (aka Buoys Park) and Library Square (Union Street, Little Donegall Street and Library Street)).

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Phase three is intended to complement the works completed during the Belfast Streets Ahead Phase One project and will link to the University of Ulster’s plans for their campus at York Street.

The public realm enhancements to be taken forward within phase three will "deliver high quality streetscapes and open space, and will include improvements to surfacing, lighting, landscaping, street furniture and public artwork".

Work is currently under way to appoint a design team to take forward the development of design proposals for the scheme. It is anticipated that the team will be in place towards the end of 2013.

For more information on Belfast Streets Ahead visit: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/urcdg-urban_regeneration/belfast-streetsahead.htm

Belfast / a method | 2 May - 8 June 2013, Golden Thread Gallery, Belfast

The Forum for Alternative Belfast presents ‘Belfast – a method’ in the main gallery at Golden Thread Belfast as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 2013. The exhibition launches Thursday 2 May, 6 - 9pm. For more information click here.

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Attwood gives green light to Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze

Environment Minister Alex Attwood today granted planning permission for a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre at the Maze. The decision of the Maze / Long Kesh redevelopment follows the recent approval for the relocation of the Balmoral show to the site. The building is designed by Daniel Libeskind along with McAdam Design.

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A further application for minor works to the listed and retained buildings on the Maze site has also been granted planning permission today.

Commenting on his decision, Minister Attwood said: “I have today granted permission for the proposed centre. There is learning to be taken from the conflict here. The centre can contribute to sharing this learning and perhaps to help inform the resolution of conflict in other places."

“I believe that good planning needs good design. That is certainly the case in the design of the Centre created by Daniel Libeskind, a world leader in architecture and a friend of Northern Ireland.”

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Commenting on the speed of the planning decision Alex Attwood said: "I was able to grant planning permission for such a major scheme like this in less than six months. This is another example of the benefit of pro-active pre-application discussion and community consultation in dealing with major planning applications of regional significance, such as this. This will play a significant part in meeting a target of the EU funding programme and I am determined to continue making major planning decisions speedily and accurately and making a planning system more fit to achieve its purpose.”

To view the planning application files online click here.

Creating a Sustainable Built Environment through Education and Collaboration | Wed 8 May, Conor Lecture Theatre, UU York Street, Belfast

The Faculty of Art, Design and Built Environment has organised a half day seminar entitled “Creating a Sustainable Built Environment through Education and Collaboration” which will take place on Wednesday 8th May, in the Conor Lecture Theatre, Belfast Campus. The event will explore some of the innovative work of the School of the Built Environment in terms of business-led research and innovation; graduate employability skills and meeting the needs of businesses; and the benefits of a strong University role in the development of the local economy.

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This is part of the University of Ulster’s three-day showcase event – the Ulster Business Festival – across all four campuses in May. From 8th – 10th May discussions, lectures and seminars will demonstrate its engagement with the business community in its widest sense, highlighting its collaborative approach to engaging with industry at present – and exploring how these links can be further developed and enhanced.

Programme: http://adl.ulster.ac.uk/ulsterbusinessfestival/docs/UBF_A4_8thMayBelfast.pdf

Register: Email Peter Shanks at p.shanks1@ulster.ac.uk

John Tuomey at the Lyric Theatre | Sunday 21 April, 3.30pm

The architect responsible for the award winning Lyric Theatre at Ridgeway Street, Belfast will talk about his role in developing the Stirling Prize nominated design.  John Tuomey established O’Donnell + Tuomey in 1988 and the practice went on to win more than 80 national and international awards for their architecture.

Image via http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com.

Sunday 21 April, 3.30pm, Lyric Theatre, Ridgeway Street, Belfast.

Tickets £7.50 / £5.00 concession from the Lyric Box Office. Contact (028) 9038 1081 or book online at www.lyrictheatre.co.uk.

Wednesday's soundwalk now online

Above: Screenshot of Wednesday's soundwalk on BelfastSoundMap.org

On Wednesday, we hosted a soundwalk with the team from BelfastSoundMap.org - they led a group of architects, photographers and other curious souls around the city centre.

The results range from binaural recordings to descriptions using text and images. The soundwalk itself - through pedestrian streets, shopping arcades, busy roads and the river - is a great demonstration of just how much our ears tell us about our environment.

Thanks to Pedro Rebelo, Matilde Meireles, Rui Chaves and Aonghus McEvoy for leading the workshop, and thanks to Deirdre Greaney, Barry Cullen, Nicholas Stewart and David Bunting for taking part and listening to Belfast with open ears.

The Belfast Sound Map is an open resource that aims at engaging local communities in capturing everyday sound and hence characterise the soundscape of the city. We encourage not only the submission of sound recordings, but also other forms of experiencing and registering sound, such as text or image. The overall design of this platform facilitates this multiplicity of approaches, while also allowing participants to create their own projects. These are presented as separate, individual layers of recordings within the map. Visit BelfastSoundMap.org for more info.

My Belfast 400 | Andrew Molloy, PhD Architecture student

Andrew Molloy, PLACE Volunteer and PhD Architecture student.

April 27th 2013 marked four hundred years since Sir Arthur Chichester read out Belfast’s Royal Charter received from King James I and granting Belfast’s town status, a moment immortalised by John Luke’s fantastically vibrant mural under the dome of City Hall. Belfast City Council took the opportunity of this date lying so near the long Easter weekend to throw open the doors of the City Hall and host an array of events celebrating this anniversary, all absolutely free to anyone who wanted to come along. For a self-confessed ‘Belfast geek’ (or should that be ‘enthusiast?’) such as myself this was an opportunity too good to miss. 

Photo by Andrew Molloy.

RIAI Research Award Open for Submissions

A new Research Award has launched as part of the 2013 Irish Architecture Awards. The award will recognise the important contribution made by Irish architects to research relating to the built environment. 

To enter, practices should submit one A1 Board describing their research project including a 200-word abstract, with images, graphics and other appropriate illustrations. Research Projects must be not older than three years from commencement of research and must demonstrate an innovative response to current issues of the built environment. The research methodology must be explained and research sponsors should be identified. Applicants need to be RIAI Members.

More information available at: http://www.irisharchitectureawards.ie/2013/

Deadline for Submissions: Friday 19 April 2013, 12 noon.

[Retro]Fit for the Future? | Thurs 18th April, 6pm, PLACE

PLACE present an evening of discussion exploring lessons learnt from the recent retrofit of McMaster Street and the benefits of architectural restoration.

Contributing to the discussion will be Siobhan Brown, Assistant Director, Hearth, Declan Allison, Campaigner, Friends of the Earth, and Michael Briggs, Director, East Belfast Community Development Agency.

This event follows the recent launch of the UAHS and Hearth project 'Quality Streets' - a short animation demonstrating the retrofit of traditional terraced houses.

Date: Thursday 18th April

Time: 6pm

Venue: PLACE, 40 Fountain Street, Belfast, BT1 5EE

Cost: Voluntary donation

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Harnessing Creativity - Call for Creative Practitioners

Call for creative professionals

Creative Labs are groups of creative people, businesses or practitioners working together to develop inspiring new concepts through open- mindedness, experimentation and collaboration. They will enable practitioners from the creative sector to work with each other, or with individuals from other businesses, on collaborative concepts.

The Labs will be facilitated by mentors able to challenge, guide, inspire and advance discussions from idea generation to models for new products, practices or services. Each Lab session will help participants strengthen skills and knowledge, drawing in new ways on personal creativity, collaborating with others, discussing and connecting with emerging market trends, presenting work to potential investors in a compelling way, and finding new applications for their skills and experiences.

Clancy Moore Architects: Building Practice | Tues 16 April, 6pm at 15 Chlorine Gardens

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Swift breakfast, Wednesday 15 May 2013, 8.00am to 9.15am, Antrim Library

The Swift Breakfast on Wednesday 15 May will highlight good building practice to help in Swift conservation. You will hear about good practice measures that can contribute to CEEQUAL and BREEAM accreditation for biodiversity conservation and enhancement. The event can contribute to CPD self-assessment.

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Call for Residency: RECYCLAB Eco-Design & Eco-Architecture 2013

R-­‐Urban is a strategy of urban ecology initiated by AAA in Colombes in partnership with the City of Colombes, Ile de France Region, The Department 92, the Life+ programme of CE and other local, national and international partners, including Public Works in London. R-­‐URBAN tries to improve the capacity of urban resilience of a suburban town by reinforcing local economy, setting up urban agriculture and reuse & recycling hubs, encouraging cooperative housing projects, increasing biodiversity, reducing and recycling waste and engaging citizen in the ecological management of their neighbourhood. R-­‐URBAN started with a network of civically run facilities in Colombes, which includes amongst other a hub for eco-­‐design and eco-­‐construction: RECYCLAB (http://r-­‐urban.net/blog/projects/recyclab). This hub will function as a social enterprise and will produce assemblages for eco-­‐construction and urban agriculture from reused and recycled materials collected locally.

Forum for Alternative Belfast seek Volunteers for Model IBBelfast

Forum for Alternative Belfast are seeking people who would like to get involved in the creation of Forum for Alternative Belfast's model of Belfast. In the run up to the Golden Thread exhibition on 2nd May - Belfast/a method - FAB are opening their doors throughout April for you to help with the completion of the model.

For more information on Model IBBelfast and to volunteer visit the facebook page at this link.

Model IBBelfast. Credit: Forum for Alternative Belfast.

'Quality Streets' Launch | Templemore Baths, 12th April, 12pm

The Ulster Architectural Heritage Society launch 'Quality Streets' on Friday 12th April at 12pm. The short animation, produced in partnership with Hearth Housing Association, demonstrates how traditional terraced housing can be retro-fitted using energy efficient measures, looking at McMaster Street in East Belfast as an example.

McMaster Street, Belfast. Photo by Gary Potter.

Date: 12th April 2013
Time: 12.00pm
Venue: Templemore Baths, Templemore Avenue, Belfast BT5 4FW
Tea and coffee provided.

Soundmapping workshop | Wed 10 April | 14:00 at PLACE

To attend:
email info@placeni.org /
phone 02890232524

Walls 400! History Conference | Sat 6 & Sun 7 April, Derry~Londonderry

Walls 400! is a programme of activities to mark the quatercentenary of the City Walls during 2013. 

The objective of Walls 400! is to fully explore the contested history that the City Walls represent and to celebrate Derry’s Walls as a present-day, national heritage asset, with the potential to unite rather than separate people. 

The Walls 400! History Conference is dedicated to unpacking the history of Derry~Londonderry's Walls. Exploring myths, tackling hard history and providing evidence-based facts. Over two days delegates will get the opportunity to quiz archaeologists and historians and to take part in practical workshops examining the fabric and use of Derry's Walls.

Full details are available in this brochure.