Seamus Heaney Homeplace ///// Bellaghy Heritage

CaseStudy 21 Seamus Heaney Homeplace ///// Bellaghy Heritage

www.tobermore.co.uk | 0844 800 5736 | Heritage Seamus Heaney Homeplace | Bellaghy

Client Mid Ulster District Council Architect W & M Given Architects Main Contractor Brendan Loughran & Sons Ltd Groundworker Castle Paving

“We have been specifying Tobermore for many years now as the manufacturer offers our client’s a high quality product Fusion | Silver, Sienna Setts | Graphite, Mayfair Flags | Silver & Sandstone and a good range of options to suit styles of the project. Philip commented on allow the spaces to be broken up by the design and build: “The building is planting and create a good palette of and budget. The team at Tobermore are Tobermore Paving Solution essentially constructed in four parts - colours for visual contrast.” always ready to provide product advice the exhibition area, the performance Philip spoke with the Tobermore NI Sales space, the library/concourse and the team about the paving options available and technical expertise when required.” Specified for Inspirational education resource areas. and the team offered their expertise on “The street level entrance leads Tobermore’s most suitable products to Philip Hutchinson | Partner at W & M Given Architects Building Celebrating the Life & through to a lower ground floor complement the project. The architect exhibition space and via a central stair/ was particularly impressed with the achieved. Tobermore products allowed taken shape – from plans on a computer Literature of Seamus Heaney lift vertical circulation, the journey contemporary finishes of Tobermore’s us to meet all statutory regulations.” screen, to a construction site, and into continues to the upper ground floor Fusion block paving and Mayfair Flags – The architect specified Tobermore’s a wonderful space.” Christopher Heaney exhibition area, cafe, a 189 seat Helicon these products were specified for the site Fusion in the colour of Silver, Mayfair Flags added: “It’s so important that the centre When W & M Given Architects was background of the site and the aims theatre space and library and education along with Sienna Setts which was selected in the colours of Silver and Sandstone is in Bellaghy. Physically he (Seamus assigned the prestigious task of designing of the new 2,000 sq. m. project: “The resource rooms. A glazed cantilever as a bordering product. Fusion, Mayfair and Sienna Setts in the colour of Graphite Heaney) left Bellaghy 55 years ago, but a new arts and literary centre in Bellaghy objective was to create a multi-purpose wedge platform penetrates through the Flags and Sienna Setts are manufactured which came together to create an literally, creatively, imaginatively, he that celebrates the life and literature of community/exhibition building in honour side elevation of the exhibition space with a granite aggregate surface layer that attractive, striking finish. never really left.” the late Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney, of world-renowned poet, Seamus at high level to create a viewing area produces a striking, modern appearance The project reached completion in Philip commented on the result: “We the architect was determined to create a Heaney, and draw visitors from near and across the beautiful countryside which similar to natural granite. Tactile Flags September 2016 and earned widespread are delighted. The Tobermore products striking tribute that would do the memory far to experience the life and works of inspired so many of Heaney’s works - We in a Hazard Warning finish was also attention from the media across the specified enhanced the overall of Seamus Heaney justice. The external the poet in his home village. wanted the impact of the natural light to incorporated as a sensory paving solution, UK and Ireland. The core feature is a appearance of the scheme both on works were just as important as the “As the site was formerly a barricaded be as effective as possible when moving meeting health and safety standards. permanent exhibition which features approach from the street and when interior design and having worked with police station, we wanted to open the from the darker exhibition areas to the Philip explained how Tobermore’s opportunities for aural, visual, physical and viewed from inside the building. Tobermore on numerous projects over the site up to the street and allow visitors glazed projection.” products were incorporated into the social interaction, opening up the subject “We have been specifying Tobermore years, W & M Given was confident that access to open public space whilst The externals of the centre was created landscape design: “Our design consisted of poetry for all. The centre is carefully for many years now as the manufacturer Tobermore would have an appropriate retaining some of the older unique with stone, timber and cladding finishes, of a defined circular area which acts curated with personal stories, artefacts, offers our client’s a high quality hard landscaping solution that would features of the previous building. We bringing a collaboration of modern as a central vocal point intended to historic photographs and video recordings product and a good range of options achieve the desired result. Tobermore did looked into incorporating the existing and traditional styles together. W & M encourage gatherings for community from family, friends, neighbours, world to suit styles and budget. The team at not disappoint and provided the architect basalt stone wall into the external finish Given Architects made the decision to activity and performances. Beds for soft leaders, cultural figures and even the voice Tobermore are always ready to provide with a combination of fabulous Fusion and as far as possible to symbolically show employ a paving solution for the external planting and pathways were added to of Seamus Heaney himself reading his own product advice and technical expertise sparkling Sienna Setts block paving with how a site which was once a fortress in groundworks. Philip explained his team’s radiate out from this, leading visitors poetry. when required. modern Mayfair Flags to create a striking, the community has now peeled back the choice of hard landscaping material: “We from the street and car parking areas to Seamus Heaney’s wife, Marie, and “It goes without saying that W & M contemporary landscape design. barriers and is inviting the community wanted a product that would provide the centre entrance.” children, Christopher, Michael and Given Architects will be specifying The £4.2 million project was developed in. The split level site offered us the scope and flexibility to define shapes Philip added: “The site is sloping in Catherine were joined by almost 200 guests Tobermore products for future projects by Mid Ulster District Council, with opportunity to wrap the old stonework and routes within the site. Due to the throughout and we needed to carefully at the official opening held on September and we will continue to recommend part-funding from the former Department around the lower half of the exhibition large open areas within the site, it was plan landscaping to achieve suitable 30th 2016. Speaking at the event, Marie these products to other specifiers and for Culture, Arts and Leisure. Philip space structure.” important that we specified a product gradients, steps and transition areas to Heaney commented on the project: “I clients in the future.” Hutchinson, Partner at W & M Given Brendan Loughran & Sons Ltd was that would allow us to be creative and ensure accessibility for all users was have watched in amazement as it has Architects explained more on the appointed to manage the construction Seamus Heaney Homeplace Scan for more images

Or visit: http://bit.ly/2o5zzsY | Bellaghy

Tobermore Head Office 2 Lisnamuck Road, Tobermore, County L’derry, BT45 5QF Tel: 028 7964 2411 Fax: 028 7964 4145 www.tobermore.co.uk | 0844 800 5736 |