Design for Belfast public space and creative hub project revealed

As the Belfast Stories project is heading into the public consultation phase, we are excited to share the first sketches of the concept designs for the project which will be a public space, visitor attraction and creative hub in the heart of Belfast - revitalizing the Art Deco former Bank of Ireland building and a surrounding 5,000-square meter site in the city’s Royal Avenue.

Snøhetta is working on the project alongside landscape architects Gillespies, and the team is lead by Belfast-based TODD Architects.

The project is expected to open by 2030 and the multi-purpose city centre destination will aim to attract more than 700,000 visitors per year, with up to 1,200 jobs supported during the construction and launch phases. 

“Our aim is for Belfast Stories to become a familiar and loved feature of Belfast’s cityscape, creating an orientation point for everyone in the city. The project will regenerate this part of Belfast city centre, and we believe it has the potential to change how both residents and visitors interact with and navigate the city. It is a genuine privilege to be a working on such a transformational project and collectively we all have the opportunity to create a calling card for the city internationally,” says Daniel Berlin, Senior Architect at Snøhetta. 

Belfast Stories is all about sharing stories from people who have lived in and visited Belfast – past and present. People will take their own journey through stories that are told in many different ways – interactive, audio-visual, musical, printed and in ways that are yet to be imagined. The creative hub will feature a story gathering initiative designed to deliver an ever-developing programme of activities both inside and outside the building – where stories gathered and made are shaped, stored and shared.

“This story gathering element is a work in progress that is being influenced and shaped by our ongoing engagement with the people of Belfast. The gathering of these stories, or the ‘story engine’ as we call it, is the project’s cornerstone, and our work here has already started. The concept is driven by the belief that by telling these authentic stories of the people of Belfast we will tell the story of the city – in the richest possible detail. These stories will show the world how much we value our city and our people,” says Eimear Henry, Creative and Strategic Lead at Belfast Stories.