This is the position BUILDING FOR THE ARTS This is the position This is the position for a spot UV Varnish CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LOTTERY FUNDING This is the position for a spot UV Varnish for a spot UV Varnish for a spot UV Varnish
ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND MACNEICE10 HOUSE 77 MALONE ROAD BELFAST BT9 6AQ TELEPHONE: 028 9038 5200 WWW.ARTSCOUNCIL-NI.ORG 10 THE INTERNAL SPACES OF THE BUILDING COMBINE NATURAL “MATERIALS IN A STYLISH, SPACIOUS SITUATION … ITS LOCATION IS BUILDING FOR THE ARTS SIMILARLY IMPRESSIVE, STANDING ON A STEEP SITE BESIDE THE OLD CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF LOTTERY FUNDING
CITY WALLS. THE BUILDING COMPLEMENTS THE EXISTING SKYLINE … CONTENTS THE SIZE AND PLAN OF THE INTERIOR SPACE SUGGESTS A CONTINUATION OF THE RAMBLING STREET PATTERNS OF DERRY. Foreword 03 CIVIC TRUST AWARDS JUDGES OF THE MILLENNIUM FORUM, 2003 ” Introduction 05 Overview 06
Selected Projects: Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre, Armagh 08 THIS IS A BRAVE MODERNIST BUILDING LIKE Burnavon Arts and Cultural Centre, Cookstown 12 “NO OTHER IN NORTHERN IRELAND. Verbal Arts Centre, Derry City 16 CIVIC TRUST AWARDS JUDGES OF ” Millennium Court Arts Centre, Portadown 20 THE MARKET PLACE THEATRE & ARTS CENTRE, 2001 Island Arts Centre, Lisburn 24 Millennium Forum, Derry City 28 Flowerfield Arts Centre, Porstewart 32
Future Projects 36 THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT, ARCHITECT AND CLIENT HAVE WORKED “TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH A NARRATIVE THREAD WHICH PROGRESSES Appendix 38 Summary of Arts Council Architecture and Built Environment Policy FROM DARK TO LIGHT, RISING THROUGH THE LEVELS OF THE BUILDING TO REVEAL THE EXPRESSIVE RANGE OF THE VERBAL ARTS. Acknowledgements 40 DAVID EVANS ON THE VERBAL ARTS CENTRE, PERSPECTIVE, MAY/JUNE” 2000 celebrating 10 years of lottery funding FOREWORD
NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING Perhaps the most immediately obvious and sound applications that have emerged over the HAS HAD A TRANSFORMATIVE arguably longest-lasting transformations are course of the decade. evidenced in the capital projects which have EFFECT ON THE DELIVERY OF been funded by the Arts Council of Northern As architecture is the most pervasive of all art THE ARTS THROUGHOUT Ireland through the Lottery, as celebrated here forms (the ‘mother of the arts’ as Frank Lloyd NORTHERN IRELAND IN THE in this publication. These new arts buildings Wright put it), it is the Arts Council’s aim to and major refurbishments of buildings have ensure that these capital projects are of the LAST TEN YEARS, ENABLING A brought and will bring about fresh possibilities highest design quality – aesthetically pleasing HOST OF ADDITIONAL PROJECTS for the delivery of a range of dynamic arts and fit-for-function structures which enhance TO TAKE PLACE AND IMPORTANT activities right across the region. and improve the built environment; the promotion of design quality is, after all, an ASSETS TO BE ACQUIRED. Since 1995, the Arts Council has made important part of the Arts Council’s remit. National Lottery awards to capital building Mervyn Black’s introduction and Paul Harron’s projects totalling £27,462,129. This vital overview outline how these capital projects injection of funds has been strategically have provided significant competitive directed so that the desire to provide a opportunities for architects both from and dedicated arts facility within a radius of 20 wanting to work in Northern Ireland, and the miles of every person in Northern Ireland is result is a number of exemplary buildings. not a lofty ambition but will shortly be a Space does not permit us to cover every reality. The Arts Council has also sought to be project in detail, but we hope you will enjoy responsive to innovative and economically this short selection. building ROISÍN MCDONOUGH Opposite: The front of the new wing of the Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart, is elegantly shaded by trees; the wooded setting is referenced on the timber detailing. CHIEF EXECUTIVE for the ARTS COUNCIL OF arts NORTHERN IRELAND 03 celebrating 10 years of lottery funding INTRODUCTION
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ULSTER The Arts Council has successfully directed competition. Competitions can play a vital role substantial capital cost grants to several in the production of great projects – they push ARCHITECTS (RSUA) IS PLEASED significant architectural projects in Northern architects to generate innovative solutions to TO SUPPORT THE ARTS COUNCIL Ireland. In addition to the positive contribution architectural problems and allow younger OF NORTHERN IRELAND IN to the architectural quality of their respective firms to gain experience (if not full CELEBRATING TEN YEARS AS THE towns and cities, many of these buildings have commissions) in the early design stages of created greater potential for the creation and major projects. The RSUA has been pleased to BODY WHICH HOLDS dissemination of the arts within Northern act as co-ordinator for many of these RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE Ireland. competitions and has enjoyed a close working DISTRIBUTION OF NATIONAL relationship with the Arts Council. The Arts Council-funded projects include the LOTTERY FUNDS FOR THE ARTS award-winning Market Place Theatre in In September 2004, the RSUA and Belfast City IN NORTHERN IRELAND. Armagh by Glenn Howells Architects, the Council celebrated the opening of PLACE, a Verbal Arts Centre in Londonderry by Hall new architecture and built environment centre Black Douglas, the Millennium Forum in based in Fountain Street in Belfast’s city Londonderry by HMD Architects Ltd, and the centre. PLACE, which aspires to improve the Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart by quality of the built environment in Northern Consarc Design Group Ltd. Currently, there are Ireland, has also received considerable support several major buildings in development or and funding from the Arts Council. We are construction stages which have received Arts deeply obliged to the Arts Council for its Council backing as well, including the Omagh support and partnership in the promotion of Arts Centre by Kennedy Fitzgerald and the design quality which will be further enabled Grand Opera House renovation by the Arts through PLACE. Team of RHWL Architects. None of these notable building projects could have been The Arts Council deserves hearty conceived without this support. congratulations for its ten years of hard work and support of architecture, the built It is important that the architects for Arts environment and the arts. We look forward to Council-funded projects are found through the next decade. building MERVYN BLACK Opposite: Drawing of the north elevation of the Verbal Arts Centre, Derry City, indicating the renovations carried out by Hall Black Douglas Architects. PRESIDENT for the ROYAL SOCIETY OF arts ULSTER ARCHITECTS 05 building for the arts celebrating 10 years of lottery funding BUILDING FOR THE ARTS AN OVERVIEW OF PROJECTS BUILT BETWEEN 1994 AND 2004
SINCE 1994, THE ARTS COUNCIL Three more major projects are in receipt of Several of the buildings, for example, have procurement requirements. Design teams and The Arts Council has sought to ensure that funding and in the process of current made strong architectural statements and construction service providers are appointed these new arts facilities are primarily fit for OF NORTHERN IRELAND HAS development, which are highlighted in the been noted in national awards for doing so – through open and widely advertised tendering, purpose but equally that they are inspirational THROUGH NATIONAL LOTTERY ‘Future and Other Projects’ section of this the Market Place Theatre in Armagh (Civic and design teams have been appointed and visionary buildings which are meaningful RESOURCES BEEN A KEY book. This publication aims to provide a visual Trust Centre Vision Award 2001 and competitively (selected on the basis of the and beneficial spaces. They add significantly to PARTNER WITH A VARIETY OF snapshot of a range of these buildings from nomination for the Stirling Prize amongst design quality of their proposals), and, where Northern Ireland’s architectural portfolio and across the region – seven major projects have other plaudits), as well as the Verbal Arts the commission has been of a sufficient scale, embellish the built environment. COMMISSIONING BODIES – been highlighted and are presented in Centre (Civic Trust Award 2001 and RIAI through architectural competition. RANGING FROM LOCAL chronological order of award made. Regional Award 2001) and Millennium Forum BIBLIOGRAPHY (Civic Trust Award 2003 and RICS Award for While recognising architecture as an artform in Architectural Competitions: A Handbook for Promoters AUTHORITIES TO INDIVIDUAL (Department of the Environment and Department of By happy co-incidence, the Arts Council (as the Excellence 2003) which are both in Derry City. itself, the Council has also placed a strong National Heritage, 1996) ARTS ORGANISATIONS – IN THE result of the Clive Priestley Review of 1992/3) emphasis and requirement on the involvement of CREATION AND LARGE-SCALE was given the formal remit to promote The Council’s ‘best practice’ approach has visual artists, craftspeople and artists from other Arts Facilities: Preliminary Guidance (Voluntary Arts REFURBISHMENT OF EIGHT architecture and design quality simultaneously required applicants to go through a rigorous disciplines in the creation of capital arts projects. Network, 1994) with the opportunity to distribute the first staged application process of feasibility and Arts spaces should involve inter-disciplinary Better Public Buildings: A Proud Legacy for the Future MAJOR MULTI-USE ARTS Lottery awards to arts-focused capital projects. design development before the main building discourse between other artists and architects, (HM Government, DCMS, 2000) BUILDINGS AND SEVERAL While an Arts Council policy on architecture and and fit-out application (which processes the and creative relationships can bring new and Sixsmith, Mike, Designing Galleries: the complete SOMEWHAT SMALLER SCALE the built environment took some time to Council will have often also funded). In short, unique dynamics to thinking through the needs guide to developing and designing spaces and services CAPITAL PROJECTS ACROSS develop (the policy document was launched in though, good facilities are viewed as those and aesthetics of a place.While a ‘Per Cent for for temporary exhibitions (Arts Councils of England, 2003 and a summary of it is included in the which put design excellence at the forefront; Art’ scheme has not actually been enshrined to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, 1999) NORTHERN IRELAND. Appendix), from the outset the Council sought are sustainable; respect their context; and are date, priority has been given to projects which Space for Art: A Handbook for Creative Learning to follow best practice in design and universally accessible. In terms of getting the take this cross-disciplinary and integrated Environments (Artworks/Clore Duffield Foundation, commissioning terms in the building and design team as well as the procurement approach. Through another of its Lottery 2003) refurbishment of these key infrastructural arts process right, as Mervyn Black mentioned in programmes – New Work – the Arts Council has Space for Learning: A Handbook for Education Spaces spaces. Prior to Lottery funding there had been a his introduction, the Arts Council has sought funded a range of integrated art projects in in Museums, Heritage Sites and Discovery Centres general lack of capital investment; the advent of the advice of the relevant professional body, hospital and healthcare capital builds, such as at (Clore Duffield Foundation, 2004) these new funds literally changed the landscape. the RSUA, and followed European Union the Mater and Royal Group Hospitals in Belfast. building
arts PAUL HARRON Above: ‘Bicentenary Sculpture’, 5m-high kinetic aluminium tapers by Eamonn O’Doherty, Royal Group of Hospitals, Belfast (1997). Above right: Integrated art project (various artists) at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Belfast ARCHITECTURE AND for the for the PUBLIC ART OFFICER arts
building ARTS COUNCIL OF 06 NORTHERN IRELAND 07 selected projects MARKET PLACE THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE, ARMAGH
APPLICANT: The Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre precast polished limestone slabs as an THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM ARMAGH CITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL forms one side of the main public square in internal and external finish. ARCHITECT Armagh City. Sited beneath St Patrick’s TOTAL PROJECT COST: Church of Ireland Cathedral, it manages to The building contains a 400-seat main Glenn Howells Architects £6,265,000 respect its significant site and context by not theatre auditorium lined in American oak, a QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: competing with surrounding historic 150-seat studio theatre, an art gallery WH Stephens and Sons; £3,672,452 buildings, yet makes a bold, modernist exhibition space, workshops, meeting room The Back Group (pre-contract) OTHER FUNDERS: statement architecturally. David Evans, and a café-bar and restaurant. STRUCTURAL ENGINEER ARMAGH CITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL writing in Perspective (Vol. 8 No. 5) Dewhurst Macfarlane & Partners concluded, ‘It has been argued that “modern The building has received a number of SERVICES ENGINEER BUILDING COMPLETED: architecture has failed almost completely to significant architectural plaudits, including Fulcrum Consulting 2001 produce images of enjoyment and the Civic Trust Centre Vision Special Award LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT entertainment”. Not so the case with the 2001, a High Commendation in the British Nicholas Pearson Associates new Armagh Theatre and Arts Centre, where Construction Industry Awards 2001, and a Glenn Howells Architects have provided a nomination for the Stirling Prize for MAIN CONTRACTOR building where gravitas is tempered with Architecture. It was also selected for inclusion Gilbert-Ash Ltd suavity and aplomb.’ The design is innovatory in The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World THEATRE CONSULTANT in a number of ways, not least in its use of Architecture published in 2004. John Wykham Associates building Opposite: The 400-seat main theatre auditorium is lined in American oak. Left: The main entrance to the clean, white complex is accessed via a grand flight of steps which forms an exciting new dynamic on the main civic square in Armagh. for the arts
09 selected projects building Opposite: The café-bar is bright and airy and the materials have been carefully integrated. Top: The elevation shows the building’s relationship to the square, sloping hillside site, and the cathedral at its summit. Above: Section for the Above right: Site plan, showing the complex in the heart of Armagh City. arts
11 selected projects BURNAVON ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTRE, COOKSTOWN
APPLICANT: The multi-use Burnavon Arts and Cultural activity within, it would add a dramatic new THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM COOKSTOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL Centre, situated on the site of the former element to the Cookstown streetscape, ARCHITECT Cookstown Town Hall on Burn Road, was the particularly at night.’ TOTAL PROJECT COST: first civic-scaled, state-of-the-art building of McCormick Tracey Mullarkey £1,923,504 its kind in Mid-Ulster. The winning The centre houses a 351-seat auditorium with QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: competition design by McCormick Tracey retractable seating and a flexible stage, a free- W.H. McEvoy £1,125,585 Mullarkey was noted for its ‘simple but strong flowing foyer which wraps around the SERVICES OTHER FUNDERS: concept of a solid, that is, the auditorium, auditorium, a Tourist Information Centre, a Delap & Waller COOKSTOWN DISTRICT COUNCIL; within a glazed envelope’. Perspective (Vol. 5 Box Office, upper floor exhibition space, a café STRUCTURAL ENGINEER FOUNDATION FOR SPORTS AND THE ARTS; No. 5) noted that, ‘the envelope, which and restaurant, office accommodation, and Fergus Gilligan & Partners NORTHERN IRELAND TOURIST BOARD contained the social areas and exhibition areas for civic receptions and private events. THEATRE CONSULTANT spaces, insulated the auditorium from traffic John Wykham Associates BUILDING COMPLETED: noise, while providing excellent circulation The building received an RSUA Design Awards MAIN CONTRACTOR 2000 within the building. Highlighting the social Commendation in 2000. McCann Brothers building Opposite: The ‘glazed envelope’ design of the building is especially effective at night. Left: Main entrance for the arts
13 burnavon centre selected projects building
arts Opposite, far left above: The exhibition space is situated on the upper floor. Opposite, far left below: View down the main staircase in day-lit conditions. Opposite: The main auditorium has retractable seating for over 350 people, and a flexible stage area. for the for the Above: Ground floor plan
Left: First floor plan arts building 14 15 selected projects VERBAL ARTS CENTRE, DERRY CITY
APPLICANT: The Verbal Arts Centre acquired the red-brick children’s workshop area; a debating THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM VERBAL ARTS CENTRE Queen Anne revival style First Derry chamber; a residential studio and a multi- ARCHITECT Presbyterian Primary School (built to the purpose public performance space on the top TOTAL PROJECT COST: designs of W.E. Pinkerton in 1894) building floor. David Evans in Perspective (Vol. 8 No. 5) Hall Black Douglas £1,637,578 next to the historic city walls in the mid- summed up this major and innovative QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: 1990s. Through the work of architects Hall refurbishment of a building previously at risk Hastings & Baird £1,174,171 Black Douglas, and a number of artists – such thus: ‘throughout the project, architect and STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OTHER FUNDERS: as Carolyn Mulholland, John Behan and client have worked together to establish a Dr I G Doran & Partners VERBAL ARTS CENTRE; INTERNATIONAL Caroline McCarthy – who created integrated narrative thread which progresses from dark SERVICES ENGINEER FUND FOR IRELAND (NORTHERN IRELAND pieces for the building, it was transformed to light, rising through the levels of the Delap & Waller TOURIST BOARD); FOUNDATION FOR into a centre to promote writing, story- building to reveal the expressive range of the MAIN CONTRACTOR telling, performance and verbal creativity. verbal arts’. SPORT AND THE ARTS; DEPARTMENT OF O’Neill Brothers SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT; ENVIRONMENT AND HERITAGE SERVICE; DERRY CITY The space, which is accessed by a double The building has received a number of COUNCIL; ADAPT FUND FOR NORTHERN height reception area, includes a gallery on significant architectural awards, including a IRELAND the ground floor; a library/board room; a café Civic Trust Award in 2001; RIAI Regional Award on the first floor; a sound recording studio; a 2001; and EHS Conservation Award 2001. BUILDING COMPLETED: 2000 (OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED 2002) building Opposite: The main entrance to the Centre, with views of the double-height reception area and gallery, and floor tiles by Ron van der Noll (collaborating with Louis le Brocquy). Left: Window railings have been treated innovatively by Gerald Pullman. for the arts
17 selected projects building Opposite: The red-brick exterior, with its Dutch gables and mullioned windows, was fully restored. Above: Plans of each floor
Above, far right: the airy interior performance space of the Blue Coat Room. for the arts
19 selected projects MILLENNIUM COURT ARTS CENTRE, PORTADOWN
APPLICANT: The Millennium Court Arts Centre is located in external public space partially covered by a THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM PORTADOWN 2000 the heart of Portadown, on William Street off glazed canopy. ARCHITECT High Street. It occupies the former Municipal TOTAL PROJECT COST: Central Market– a redbrick building dating The building programme included a purchase; Harry Porter Architects £2,109,723 from 1929 with stone string course and complete refurbishment/change of use; a QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: detailing to the front façade and a pitched building extension and the purchase of new Wheelan & Co £1,090,384 Bangor Blue slate roof – and the site of former equipment. The new centre includes two MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS OTHER FUNDERS: terraced houses which had fallen into disrepair. galleries (the larger multi-purpose space, which Caldwell Partnership DSD (PEACE AND RECONCILIATION); After major refurbishment, carried out by showcases contemporary works by local, MAIN CONTRACTOR INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR IRELAND; Harry Porter Architects, a new centre has been national and international artists, retains the M Girvan & Sons CRAIGAVON DISTRICT PARTNERSHIP; created to provide space for participation in original exposed market-house metal-trussed CRAIGAVON BOROUGH COUNCIL; visual, multi-media and verbal arts. The new roofing structure); rehearsal rooms; KALEIDOSCOPE/PORTADOWN 2000 elements of the building are stepped back studio/workshop space and a video from the former street line to create an editing/multi-media suite. BUILDING COMPLETED: 2002 building Opposite: An external public space has been created at the front of the Centre, oversailed by a glazed canopy. Left: The original entrance to the building prior to refurbishment and new building work. for the arts
21 millennium court selected projects building
arts Opposite, far left above: The main gallery space in darkened conditions. Opposite, far left below: The main gallery space in daylight, with the original metal-trussed roofing structure visible. Opposite: The façade of the restored red-brick Market building on William Street. for the for the Top: Elevation
Above: Ground floor plan arts Above right: First floor plan building 22 23 selected projects ISLAND ARTS CENTRE, LISBURN
APPLICANT: Lisburn Borough (now City) Council took a studio and multi-media suite. The building THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM LISBURN BOROUGH COUNCIL decision to build a new Civic Centre for local programme included a ‘Per Cent for Art’ and ARCHITECT authority and administrative functions on the the project also received a Royal Society of TOTAL PROJECT COST: old Island Mill site, situated on the river bank Arts Art for Architecture Scheme award. The Consarc Design Group £3,617,658 (FOR ARTS CENTRE ONLY) close to the centre of the city. Simultaneously, building itself and the surrounding regenerated ENGINEERS ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: the Council chose to move its existing arts river banks and weir now incorporate a wide Kirk McClure Morton £1,301,571 provision from across the borough to this site range of public art works by a variety of PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS OTHER FUNDERS: for incorporation into the new complex. Arts artists, such as Ned Jackson Smyth, Janet Ferguson & McIlveen, PriceWaterHouseCoopers LISBURN BOROUGH COUNCIL; SUSTRANS Council Lottery support was sought for this Preston, Brian Connolly and Larrissa Watson- CONTRACTOR CYCLE NETWORK; DEPARTMENT OF element of the building programme. Consarc Regan. McCombe Bros AGRICULTURE; MILLENNIUM GARDEN; Design Group won the commission and LAGAN CORRIDOR; COUNCIL created a striking, clean modernist building The complex received the William McKeown PLAYGROUND; COUNTRYSIDE using a muted palette of materials and bold Trust Prestige Access Award in 2001; an DEVELOPMENT forms, not least of which a large copper-roofed Association of Landscape Contractors of rotunda. Ireland Award (Public Authority) in 2002; a BUILDING COMPLETED: Commendation in the RTPI Planning Awards in 2001 The new arts facility includes a studio theatre; 2003; a Best Building Award from the RICS in dance studio; rock rehearsal room; exhibition 2002 for ‘excellence in the built environment’ areas; artists’ studios; children’s workshops; and has been short-listed for the RICS 2004 adults’ workshops; dark rooms; a pottery Awards. building Opposite: View of the Island Arts Centre side of the complex (main entrance on the ground floor). Left: View to the building through one of the sculpture trail artworks: ‘Concentric Twist’ by d3 Art & Design (Ngaire Jackson, Clare Lawson and Gerry Woodcock). for the arts
25 selected projects building Opposite: The creation of the Island complex revitalised the riverbanks and this formerly derelict area of the city. Top: South elevation Above: View of the main exhibition space for the Above right: Detail of corner, rotunda and roofline
Above far right: Further gallery space near to the main entrance arts
27 selected projects MILLENNIUM FORUM, DERRY CITY
APPLICANT: The Millennium Forum was designed for a mix marked by a sculpture (‘Untitled’) by Anthony THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM DERRY THEATRE TRUST of community and professional performances. Gormley relocated from another site on the ARCHITECT A large stone-clad building, with stylish walls. TOTAL PROJECT COST: internal spaces which use a variety of high HMD Architects Ltd £13,818,997 quality, well finished natural materials, on a The facilities include a 1,012-seat trapezoidal QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: plan echoing the historic street plan of the oak-filled theatre auditorium, indoor shops, Sammon Surveyors £2,574,244 old city, it is well sited within the city’s East restaurant, conference rooms, a bar and a STRUCTURAL ENGINEER OTHER FUNDERS: Wall – a highly sensitive historic site. The coffee shop. Taylor & Boyd DERRY CITY COUNCIL; MILLENNIUM dominating feature is an elliptical ‘lozenge’- SERVICES ENGINEER COMMISSION; PRIVATE FUNDER shaped copper dome, and copper is used The building has received a number of Patrick McCaul Engineers extensively on the roofscape elsewhere. The significant architectural plaudits, including a MAIN CONTRACTOR BUILDING COMPLETED: site slopes steeply downwards in the direction Civic Trust Award in 2003 and the RICS Award J C Kennedy & Co. 2002 of the Foyle, allowing for lower entrance for Excellence in the Built Environment in access from the walls, this entrance now Northern Ireland in 2003. building Opposite: Lower, café-level entrance, with Anthony Gormley’s ‘Untitled’ sculpture in the foreground. Left: The elliptical copper dome sits high above the box office entrance. for the arts
29 selected projects building Opposite: Oak is the predominant material in the 1012-seat theatre space. Top: East Wall elevation Above left: The main circulation and foyer space showing the usage of a variety of high quality materials. for the Above: View upwards to the glass roof, pod and bridge; the space is naturally lit during the day.
Above right: View up the East Wall towards the box office entrance arts
31 selected projects FLOWERFIELD ARTS CENTRE, PORTSTEWART
APPLICANT: The Flowerfield Arts Centre, situated in a and a 150-seat flexible auditorium space THE DESIGN AND WORKS TEAM COLERAINE BOROUGH COUNCIL Georgian-style mansion in its own extensive with an outside projection screen door/wall. ARCHITECT grounds on the outskirts of Portstewart, The attractive, state-of-the-art facilities TOTAL PROJECT COST: functioned as a small arts space with which have been added are of contemporary Consarc Design Group £2,218,410 exhibition rooms, limited studio facilities and modernist design which make a strong QUANTITY SURVEYOR ARTS COUNCIL LOTTERY AWARD: an artist’s flat. It has now been completely architectural impact yet – particularly Consarc Quantity Surveyors £1,387,875 refurbished and substantially extended by through the extensive use of stone, wood MAIN CONTRACTOR OTHER FUNDERS: Consarc Design Group with a new-build and high quality natural materials – enhance JPM Contracts COLERAINE BOROUGH COUNCIL multi-functional arts and crafts facility which and complement the original period building will cater for the artistic needs of people and the landscaped/semi-wooded setting. BUILDING COMPLETED: living in the borough. The building cleverly uses extensive façade 2004 glazing on one side wing which allows the The facilities include studio and workshop circulation spaces behind to be bathed in rooms, a pottery studio, a multi-media suite, light while also being shaded by an existing gallery exhibition space, a café, a craft shop row of trees. building Opposite: The original Georgian mansion has been fully refurbished and a pedestrianised public open space created in front of the building. Left: Corner view to the rear of the new right hand wing: the open space at the ground floor corner can accommodate open- for the air pottery workshops. arts
33 selected projects building Opposite: Corner detail of new right hand wing showing the shading created by the oversailing roof and existing trees (the circulation corridors are situated behind the glass walls). Above, clockwise from top: right hand wing from park; main house with the flexible auditorium space visible to the left (the for the large white doors can be projected onto); timber and stone loggia/walkway to the new main entrance at the rear; interior of
the auditorium showing DVD projection backdrop to the performance area. arts
35 building for the arts celebrating 10 years of lottery funding
The Council has sought to encourage the FUTURE AND OTHER PROJECTS sensitive and appropriate refurbishment of existing buildings which form an important part of our built heritage. This is evident from support to the Verbal Arts Centre, for example, and in THE CASE STUDIES SELECTED HERE PROVIDE A BROAD OVERVIEW awards given to the Crescent (refurbishment OF COMPLETED BUILDING PROJECTS WHICH THE ARTS COUNCIL OF designs also by Hall Black Douglas), Conway Mill, Ballymena and Flowerfield. It is equally evident NORTHERN IRELAND HAS FUNDED WITH NATIONAL LOTTERY in a smaller but no less important award to the Carnegie Library in Larne – an important RESOURCES OVER THE PAST EXCITING DECADE. IT DOES NOT, OF example of Edwardian ‘free style’ architecture COURSE, PROVIDE THE FULL PICTURE – THE COUNCIL HAS ALSO dating from 1904 to the designs of Nicholas Fitzsimmons – which is currently being PROVIDED EQUIPMENT GRANTS (TO BELFAST’S WATERFRONT HALL, refurbished as a museum and arts centre. FOR EXAMPLE), FUNDED THE FEASIBILITY AND DESIGN Meanwhile, other major projects have been granted awards and the commissioners are in Finally, to the future. The awards over the past DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF VARIOUS DIFFERENT PROJECTS, AND HAS the process of raising further partnership ten years have provided most of the essential large-scale infrastructure for the arts across AWARDED BUILD AND FIT OUT (STAGE 3) GRANTS TO OTHER The largest award to a project in development BALLYMENA MUSEUM AND ARTS CENTRE funding. Such projects include awards to the is to OMAGH ARTS CENTRE, with a grant of has received an award of £2 million towards Lyric Theatre in Belfast (£2 million in principle) Northern Ireland, and the funds to the capital PROJECTS – SUCH AS THE SHARE DISCOVERY CENTRE IN LISNASKEA £4 million towards a dynamic new facility on the arts elements of the stimulating for a scheme by renowned Irish architects stream through the Lottery now stand at the site of the former Town Hall and redevelopment of the Town Hall and Linenhall O’Donnell + Tuomey; to the Grand Opera approximately £1million per annum. As a result, (£917,843) – AND TO A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WHICH ARE overlooking the banks of the River Strule. This street area. Not only will the existing House (£2 million in principle allocation); to the Arts Council took the decision in 2004 to prioritise minor works, refurbishment and CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT. is an ambitious £9 million project – with the Edwardian building and the 420-seat Conway Mill in Belfast (£250,000); the Crescent other funders being the Department of Social auditorium be refurbished, but new arts Arts Centre (£1.2 million); An Gaelaras in Derry equipment grants under its capital programme, Development and Omagh District Council – workshops, exhibition areas, offices and a café (£650,00 in principle) – incidentally for another although new build projects have not been ruled which will provide a multi-use arts centre, will accompany a new county museum and design won by O’Donnell + Tuomey; and to out. While the future is unlikely to yield many replete with a mid-sized auditorium and studio educational facility. The building is being Strabane District Council for a new STRABANE new arts projects on such a large scale as those and exhibition spaces, and will regenerate and designed to a high specification by Consarc ARTS CENTRE (£750,000). This latter scheme seen and represented here from over the past reclaim the riverside for public use. It is due to Design Group, to provide a building of civic by Glenn Howells Architects working with Alan decade, the Arts Council is committed to be completed by 2006. Kennedy Fitzgerald scale and presence, which will revitalise the Jones Architects is to be situated in the centre upholding its design quality principles in any Architects won the commission with a streetscape through strong design and the of the town next to the old canal basin on one future awards and to ensure that excellence in discreet, heavily glazed modernist building on inclusion of public art. First work on the site is side and linked to the town’s new Library on the design and creation of our built environment a stone base. currently just underway. the other. is rigorously promoted and achieved. building arts for the for the arts building 36 37 building for the arts celebrating 10 years of lottery funding APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF THE ARTS AIM to promote greater interest and public • Develop awareness-raising programmes for • Work with regeneration and community- purse achieve the highest design quality; COUNCIL OF NORTHERN To develop policy, strategies and actions to involvement in the design of the built the public, business, and industry sectors based agencies to promote the importance of >develop skills in urban and rural design; define the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s environment • Ensure that quality of design and universal the social, cultural, environmental and >identify and encourage locally-, nationally- IRELAND’S ARCHITECTURE AND role in raising awareness in the quality of • To encourage higher quality of rural design accessibility are key components of economic benefits of high-quality design and and internationally-based talented designers, to THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT – architecture and the built environment, and to procurement processes in capital building planning work in Northern Ireland; POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND bring issues of national importance to the KEY ACTIONS FOR THE ARTS COUNCIL OF projects • Fund programmes of exhibitions, lectures and >review the planning process to develop attention of government. NORTHERN IRELAND • Encourage the integration of high quality critical publications planning models that are pro-active, flexible ACTIONS DOCUMENT, public art into buildings and public spaces. and supportive of high quality contemporary PUBLISHED JANUARY 2003 OBJECTIVES A RAISE AWARENESS • Introduce a mandatory Per Cent for Art RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT design and sensitive conservation; • To advocate and campaign actively for the • Create an Architecture and Public Art Officer programme for all Arts Council-supported >establish a Built Environment Task Force for creation of the highest quality contemporary post in the Arts Council (In post since January new-build capital projects C RAISE QUALITY Northern Ireland; urban design, architecture, landscaping and 2003) • Support the establishment of an Architecture • A policy on architecture and the built >establish a ‘Quality Watchdog’ based on infrastructure • Lobby media to cover architecture and the Centre to serve the whole of Northern Ireland environment should be developed and adopted, existing European models; • To ensure robust and sensitive conservation built environment one which supports high quality design and >put design quality and universal accessibility of the existing built and natural environment • Develop education programmes through the B PROMOTE CRITICAL DEBATE AND raises awareness among clients (public and at the heart of procurement processes; • To promote public and political awareness of Artist in Schools Scheme and in partnership COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION private) and the wider public and through its >afford the Arts Council an advisory role in all the social, cultural, environmental and with providers of further and higher education • Provide opportunities for critical debate and own procurement processes. major planning applications; economic benefits of high quality architecture • Support Government’s efforts to place discussion through seminars and conferences >encourage District Councils to adopt the and urban design creativity at the heart of the education • Promote excellence in architectural design • Such a policy should include strategies to: government’s policy on architecture and the • To generate informed and critical debate and system. through individual and civic awards >ensure that projects funded by the public built environment. building arts for the for the arts building 38 39 building for the arts ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THE ARTS COUNCIL OF NORTHERN IRELAND WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE FOR THEIR HELP AND CO- OPERATION IN COMPILING THIS PUBLICATION: MERVYN BLACK, JAMES CUNNINGHAM, ROBERT GILMOUR, FEARGAL HARRON, JILL HOLMES, MEGAN JOHNSTON, JAMES KERR, BERNIE KILROY, LISA LYNCH, TONY MCCANCE, KAREN MCFARLAND, DAVID MCLAUGHLIN, JOHN MCNEILL, CATHERINE MING, MALCOLM MURCHISON, MICHELLE OAKES, CATRIONA RAFFERTY, ARRON SHIELDS, FRANK SWEENEY, SARAH VILLIERS, TODD WATSON, AND WILLIAM YOUNG. THE ARTS COUNCIL WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR BOTH SUPPLYING IMAGES AND GRANTING PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THEM IN THIS PUBLICATION AND ITS ACCOMPANYING TOURING EXHIBITION: ARMAGH CITY AND DISTRICT COUNCIL AND GLENN HOWELLS ARCHITECTS (FRONT COVER; PP 8-11); ULSTER JOURNALS LTD (P5); BURNAVON ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTRE (PP13-14); MCCORMICK TRACEY MULLARKEY (P15); VERBAL ARTS CENTRE AND HALL BLACK DOUGLAS (PP4, 16-19); MILLENNIUM COURT ARTS CENTRE AND HARRY PORTER ARCHITECTS (PP20-23); ISLAND ARTS CENTRE AND CONSARC DESIGN GROUP (PP24-27); MILLENNIUM FORUM/DERRY THEATRE TRUST AND HMD ARCHITECTS LTD (PP1, 28-31); FLOWERFIELD ARTS CENTRE, TODD WATSON AND CONSARC DESIGN GROUP (PP2, 32-35); OMAGH DISTRICT COUNCIL AND KENNEDY FITZGERALD ARCHITECTS (P37); BALLYMENA BOROUGH COUNCIL AND CONSARC DESIGN GROUP (P37); STRABANE DISTRICT COUNCIL AND ALAN JONES ARCHITECTS (P37). arts Design: Circle Creative Communications
for the Printed: GPS Colour Graphics Copyright in images as listed above Copyright in publication © Arts Council of Northern Ireland 2004 building 40