Belfast Invites Public Input on New Tourist Centre Design
Image Name: Belfast Tourist Centre
Image Credit: Condé Nast Traveler
Belfast residents are invited to offer their opinions on the proposed £100 million visitor attraction project that aims to change the tourism scene of the city. By 2030 the Belfast Stories centre, which seeks to bring the past, present, and future of the city to life via words, images, and sounds, should open its doors.
Situated at the corner of Royal Avenue and North Street, the former Bank of Ireland building will become the new attraction. Dating back to the 1920s, this historic site will keep its current form and be included into the new design. The public is asked to comment on the published designs, which highlight galleries, a creative center, a roof garden, and event venues.
Emphasizing its potential to unify people, increase tourism, and strengthen Belfast’s international reputation, Wendy Langham, the program director of Belfast Stories, shared her vision for the project. “These are early ideas, thus it means that we can still make changes,” Langham said. “We want to hear the voices of people all around the city, why we are doing public consultation. They can affect the actual content of Belfast Stories when we open in 2030.
The project calls for starting building in 2027. Once finished, it is expected to be a second main tourist attraction in the city, enhancing the well-known Titanic Belfast visitor facility. Situated next to the current Belfast Central Library, the centre for Belfast Stories spans about 5,000 square metres.
Among the few surviving Art Deco buildings in Belfast is the old Bank of Ireland building, sometimes known as the Angel of the City or the Little Empire because of its likeness to the Empire State Building in New York. Priority for the project is maintaining this architectural legacy. Langham underlined the need of preserving this structure for next generations and expressed hope that project finance will be obtained.
Following design and cost completion, the creation of the Belfast Stories center will need formal approval including planning clearance. Visioned as a venue for writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers, the creative hub within the center aims to support a dynamic cultural scene. Attracting about 700,000 visitors a year is a main objective.
Micky Murray, Lord Mayor of Belfast, thinks the new complex will have a major influence on central Belfast. Thanks to the Belfast region city deal funding, “Belfast Stories is a project our city has been crying out for and it’s being made possible.”
Oslo-based Snøhetta and Belfast-based TODD Architects form a collaboration on the design team for Belfast Stories. The cooperation seeks to combine local knowledge with foreign experience to produce a major attraction appealing to both people living here and visitors.
Shaping the final design of the Belfast Stories Centre depends critically on public engagement. It presents locals with a special chance to help a project honoring Belfast’s rich past and vibrant future come to pass. Refining the design to guarantee it satisfies the demands and expectations of society will depend much on the comments gathered.
Part of a larger plan to revitalize Belfast’s city center, this new project draws more visitors and generates business possibilities. The success of the project depends on its capacity to strike a compromise between adding modern amenities appealing to current viewers and maintaining historical aspects.
All things considered, the projected £100m Belfast Stories center is likely to be a major boost to the tourism and cultural scene of the city. The project seeks to produce a venue reflecting Belfast’s communal ambitions and legacy by including the public in the design process. The community’s contribution will be crucial in building a monument honoring Belfast’s legendary past while looking forward to a dynamic future as the city gets ready for the expected opening of the center in 2030.
For more information, visit BBC’s comprehensive article
