TITANIC BELFAST Architecture for a New Age “In the lives of cities, boldness and vision rarely follow catastrophe,” wrote architectural critic Paul Goldberger. The city of Belfast may be the exception that proves the rule. After a generation of Troubles, the citizens of the great port city have grown accustomed to peace and economic growth. Innovation is surging. Titanic Belfast rises as one of Europe’s largest waterfront structures. TURLOUGH MC CONNELL examines the complex legacy of RMS Titanic and the impact of its compelling maritime heritage on a citizenry poised for economic and cultural success. A Special Supplement to Irish America Magazine in cooperation with Titanic Foundation. Produced by Turlough McConnell and Kate Overbeck. “Titanic Belfast will be s recently as last December, Belfast will attract around 400,000 visitors annu- amid a faltering world econ- ally, of whom between 130,000 and 165,000 will a flagship destination. omy, supporters of Titanic be from outside Northern Ireland.” Iconic in design and A Foundation wondered how the Titanic Foundation is a company limited by ambitious mixed-use water- guarantee with charitable objectives to educate home to a world-class front project centered on the signature structure people on Belfast’s social, historical, industrial and exhibition on the site of Titanic Belfast would be completed. Many ques- maritime heritage through the story of the Titanic. the Belfast shipyard tioned whether the ambitious visitor attraction The goal is to communicate through extensive would be ready in 2012 to mark the 100th outreach programs that the innovation, engineer- where the great ocean anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. ing and craftsmanship that flourished in Belfast liner was built. It will Plans for building Titanic Belfast, and for rede- one hundred years ago continues today. veloping the historic shipyards, have stayed afloat The Foundation plans to create a one-of-a- inform, inspire and thanks to the unflagging commitment of public kind, “must-see” visitor attraction. Jonathan entertain the thou- and private stakeholders. In late 2008 Tourism Hegan, Chairman of the Titanic Foundation, Minister Arlene Foster announced that the $140 points to the scale of the project and its capacity sands of visitors every million package needed to fund the building for delivering an inspirational learning experi- year who walk through would be shared equally by the Government, ence. “Titanic Belfast will be a flagship destina- through the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, 50% tion,” says Hegan. “Iconic in design and home to a its doors.” and 50% from their partners in the private sector, world-class exhibition on the site of the Belfast Titanic Quarter Ltd and Belfast Harbour Commis- shipyard where the great ocean liner was built. It sioners. Belfast City Council contributed the bal- will inform, inspire and entertain the thousands of ancing $15 million. Overall this unique funding visitors every year who walk through its doors.” partnership has but one single objective: to com- plete and open the main attraction to visitors in he aim of the Foundation is to time for the 2012 centennial. restore the pride associated with Today, the pace of construction is brisk. Activ- the building of the Titanic. The Cover page: A nighttime rendering of the ity around the site conjures the tumultuous project will honor the technolog- exterior of Titanic Belfast designed by T the American-born architect Eric Kuhne. images of 19th century Belfast, of workmen, vehi- ical capability that produced Left, top: Titanic Quarter, with Titanic cles and objects moving swiftly in all directions. Titanic a century ago as an inspiration for estab- Belfast at the center, is the most impor- Minister Foster recently confirmed that work lishing Belfast and Northern Ireland as a lead- tant regeneration opportunity in North- ing tourism destination, building on the global ern Ireland for a generation. is advancing well. “Good progress is being Left, below: Shipyard workers swarm made to create a world-class tourist attraction recognition of the Titanic brand. down Queen’s Road in May 1911. At this for Northern Ireland. We have a proud industrial Strategic Investment Board, Northern Ireland period about 14,000 men were employed and maritime heritage, and only Belfast can tell Ltd (SIB) is one of several groups supporting the by Harland & Wolff at Queen’s Island. Photograph by Peter Lavery. the complete story of the world famous RMS goals of the Foundation. Dr. Bryan Gregory, Top: RMS Titanic, made in Belfast, sets sail Titanic. This project will give potential tourists a SIB’s Strategic Advisor and Interim CEO of the to Southampton, England for her tragic compelling reason to visit.” Foundation, speaks of the need to maintain maiden voyage. (Heritage photographs supplied by The Ulster Folk and Transport “The social and economic benefits will also authenticity. “The overall design of the building Museum Photographic Archive.) be very significant. We estimate that Titanic has been influenced by the shipbuilding her- itage of Belfast. The building in its line and form Chairman of Belfast Harbour. “Creating a focal incorporates elements of the Titanic bow, the point for the only authentic Titanic heritage in White Star Line insignia and the gantries used to the world, just miles from where passengers build the Titanic.” arrive today, will be a major attraction that will “Titanic Belfast will be over five stories enhance Belfast’s growing popularity as a high,” adds Hegan. “It will house a range of tourist destination.” themed exhibition galleries capable of han- Just how significant is a great building to the dling around 900,000 visitors annually. Visitors revival of a city? Rarely can a single building be will learn about the construction of RMS judged a transformational work. But one major “Titanic Belfast will Titanic and the wide and rich story of Northern precedent inspires all charged with that mis- be over five stories Ireland’s industrial and maritime heritage.” sion – Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Bilbao. high. It will house a As he sees it, “The mission of the Founda- The latest issue of Vanity Fair reports on a tion is to educate the public about Belfast’s survey of 90 of the world’s leading architects, range of themed exhi- maritime heritage through the story of RMS teachers, and critics, who were asked to name bition galleries capa- Titanic. This will be done mainly through the most significant structure built in recent Titanic Belfast and outreach programs that will memory. The majority of the 52 experts who ble of handling inspire a new generation to become truly ultimately participated in the poll – including 11 around 900,000 visi- ‘titanic’ thinkers.” Pritzker Prize winners and the deans of eight “As one of the cornerstones of Titanic Belfast major architecture schools – cited Gehry’s tors annually. Visi- and a symbol of the Northern Ireland’s vitality,” Guggenheim Bilbao. tors will learn about says Gregory, “we plan to promote an under- What Bilbao was in the 20th century for standing, appreciation, and enjoyment of mar- Spain, Titanic Belfast plans to be in the 21st cen- the construction of itime history and heritage and its values in this tury for Northern Ireland. The city of Bilbao – RMS Titanic and the authentic setting.” today one of Europe’s top tourist destinations – The Titanic Belfast concept began to emerge was such a backwater in the 1990s that, accord- wide and rich story of in 2005 as part of a revitalization plan for the city ing to Gehry, the 265,000-square-foot museum Northern Ireland’s docklands. Angus Waddinton, Project Manager went up almost unnoticed by the press. for Todd Architects, says with pride, “As soon as industrial and mar- Titanic Belfast opens its doors it will earn its n 2005 Eric Kuhne and Associates (also itime heritage.” place as Northern Ireland’s centerpiece of mod- known as Civic Arts) were appointed by ern architecture. We are all very proud to be Titanic Quarter Ltd as lead concept Jonathan Hegan working to make this happen.” architects and Master Planners for Chairman, Titanic Foundation I Howard Hastings, Chairman of the Northern Titanic Quarter. Civic Arts began creat- Ireland Tourist Board, says: “Titanic Belfast was ing the Development Framework, originally identified as one of five Signature Projects to designed by Turley Associates, into a Master showcase what is unique about Northern Ire- Plan for Titanic Quarter. The Master Plan created land. This project will bring the story of RMS a blueprint for the Titanic Quarter into a $5 bil- Titanic back home to Belfast, where she and her lion waterfront development expected to create sister ships were designed and built. It will also at least 25,000 new jobs over the next 15 years. act as a massive pull for visitors to the rest of As envisioned by Kuhne and his associates, Northern Ireland.” Titanic Belfast will be a spectacularly visible Mike Smith, CEO of Titanic Quarter Ltd, structure serving as a sculptural backdrop for added: “Progress on the main building will Queens Island, the Port of Belfast, the Lagan enable us to develop related plans for hotels, River and the hills surrounding Belfast. Kuhne Right, top: Titanic Belfast holds the retail units and additional leisure space, includ- describes the rationale for the design. “Other record for the largest concrete pour in ing the development of Slipway Park – one of cities’ waterfronts have nowhere near the legacy the history of modern construction on the island of Ireland. (Photograph by the largest public spaces to be created in Belfast of this site. During the latter stages of the Indus- Chris Hill.) in the past 50 years.” trial Revolution, Belfast attracted some of the Right, bottom: In 1911 the twin slip- “Belfast Harbor already attracts 60,000 cruise world’s best engineers, designers and artisans.