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03/12/2001
Imagine Belfast brings new life to Victorian masterpiece
The latest jewel of Belfast’s Victorian architectural heritage to be refurbished and given a fresh lease of life is the former Northern Bank in Royal Avenue.
Designed in the 1880’s by John Lanyon, it is the new home of Imagine Belfast 2008, the organisation which is bidding for the city to become European Capital of Culture in seven years time.
Shona McCarthy, chief executive of Imagine Belfast 2008, explained: “It’s entirely appropriate that our campaign headquarters should be in such a splendidly characteristic Belfast building by one of the city’s most famous architects.
“It is equally significant that we are operating within the energising environment of a building shared with other cultural and community organisations, located at 109 - 113 Royal Avenue, right in the newly vibrant Cathedral Quarter.
“Our bid emphasises the tremendous legacy that Belfast wants to share with the wider world, in the arts, science and commerce. Buildings of the Victorian and Edwardian period, in particular, are among the finest in Europe, so architecture is going to be a major building-block of our bid.”
The former bank was vacant for some time before becoming the first of three buildings to be refurbished by the Laganside Corporation as managed workspace. This provides suitable accommodation at affordable rents for arts and community groups, at the hub of Belfast’s fast-growing cultural quarter.
Imagine Belfast 2008 has just moved into spacious ground floor accommodation including a public exhibition area for display of artworks and other materials relevant to the bid.
The building is located at 109-113 Royal Avenue; it has a fanlight over the main entrance etched with ‘Cathedral Quarter Managed Workspace’. It is on the opposite site of Royal Avenue from Belfast Public Library, halfway between Cafe Clements and Gloria Jean’s Coffee house. (MB)
Designed in the 1880’s by John Lanyon, it is the new home of Imagine Belfast 2008, the organisation which is bidding for the city to become European Capital of Culture in seven years time.
Shona McCarthy, chief executive of Imagine Belfast 2008, explained: “It’s entirely appropriate that our campaign headquarters should be in such a splendidly characteristic Belfast building by one of the city’s most famous architects.
“It is equally significant that we are operating within the energising environment of a building shared with other cultural and community organisations, located at 109 - 113 Royal Avenue, right in the newly vibrant Cathedral Quarter.
“Our bid emphasises the tremendous legacy that Belfast wants to share with the wider world, in the arts, science and commerce. Buildings of the Victorian and Edwardian period, in particular, are among the finest in Europe, so architecture is going to be a major building-block of our bid.”
The former bank was vacant for some time before becoming the first of three buildings to be refurbished by the Laganside Corporation as managed workspace. This provides suitable accommodation at affordable rents for arts and community groups, at the hub of Belfast’s fast-growing cultural quarter.
Imagine Belfast 2008 has just moved into spacious ground floor accommodation including a public exhibition area for display of artworks and other materials relevant to the bid.
The building is located at 109-113 Royal Avenue; it has a fanlight over the main entrance etched with ‘Cathedral Quarter Managed Workspace’. It is on the opposite site of Royal Avenue from Belfast Public Library, halfway between Cafe Clements and Gloria Jean’s Coffee house. (MB)
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