Snøhetta share concept sketches for new visitor attraction

Tenderstream member Snøhetta has shared the first sketches of concept designs for the Belfast Stories project, which is heading into the public consultation phase. Belfast Stories is a visitor attraction and creative hub in the heart of Belfast, set to revitalise the Art Deco former Bank of Ireland building and a surrounding 5,000 sq m site in the city’s Royal Avenue. Snøhetta is working on the project alongside landscape architects Gillespies, with the team lead by Belfast-based TODD Architects.

The new hub is all about sharing stories from people who have lived in and visited Belfast. Visitors will take their own journey through narratives that are related in many different ways – including interactive and audio-visual presentations, alongside printed material. 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 the collected stories are shaped, stored and shared. 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. 

Daniel Berlin, senior architect at Snøhetta, commented: “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.”

Lucy Nordberg
Tenderstream Head of Research

This tender was first published by Tenderstream on 09.06.2022 here

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