Titanic Belfast will leave a lasting impression on visitors from across the world, a new symbol of a new Belfast which we can all enjoy and be proud of.” Bringing the plans to life and delivering a building that reflects the ingenuity and ambition displayed by the thousands who built the Titanic was a huge architectural challenge – and one we are delighted to have met.
Paul Crowe, Managing Director of TODD Architects said, “Having worked at the heart of this truly global project, it fills us with an enormous sense of pride to see such a fascinating building dominating the Belfast skyline. These heritage elements are more than just scheduled monuments and listed buildings – they represent a cornerstone of Belfast’s folk memory and identity. All of which have been central considerations during the design, planning and construction of the project. The drawing offices and slipways, which have been designated an Historic Monument, define the edge of a new public piazza with the Titanic Building centred on both axis through the Piazza. The relationship beautifully reflects the original connection between the Harland and Wolf drawing office and the Titanic and Olympic- engineering marvels of their day. The Titanic Building is a technologically ambitious man-made structure that towers over the Grade A listed Nineteenth Century drawing offices where the Titanic was designed and the Scheduled slipways where the Titanic and Olympic were built. The entire external façade is clad in two thousand unique three-dimensional aluminium panels, creating an awe-inspiring visual appearance, which is further enhanced by reflective pools of water surrounding the base of the structure. You enter the building at ground floor level into the ‘Welcome Hall’ a dramatic space which includes a 60ft high wall covered in folded steel panels of the same size to those used on Titanic’s hull. Titanic Belfast is 14,000 sq.m excluding the basement underground car park of 500 spaces. The building which includes a range of sustainable strategies – Combined Heat and Power micro generation, 56,000 litre rainwater harvesting and intelligent lighting – is on target for BREEAM Excellent accreditation. The building has a complicated geometry and challenging construction programme as well as using ground-breaking construction techniques. Construction work commenced on the site in January 2009 with completion on programme for March 2012 in advance of the 100th anniversary of the launch of the Titanic. It will be the world’s largest Titanic-themed visitor attraction, telling the story of the Titanic, while the upper floors accommodate 1000 diners in banquet halls and function rooms. On 31st March 2012, Titanic Belfast will open its doors to the world 100 years to the day since the great ship was completed. The Titanic Belfast project is viewed as the iconic centrepiece of the Titanic Quarter Regeneration Project which encompasses approximately 75 hectares of waterfront, former industrial brownfield lands to the south side of the River Lagan in Belfast City Centre. Per visitor, it cost more than Disneyland in Paris, is almost three times more expensive than the Guggenheim in Bilbao, and cost about seven times more than the Tate Modern.ĭevelopment company Titanic Quarter Limited, chipped in £16.35m of private money towards the cost.Īrchitect & Lead Consultant: TODD ArchitectsĬoncept Design: CivicArts / Eric R Kuhne & Associates It cost £77m to construct this visitor attraction building, with most of the funding (£60m) coming from the public purse.īased on projected visitor numbers, it is one of the most expensive buildings of its kind in Europe. Now a century later the slipways are dominated by the imposing Titanic Belfast centre designed to commemorate the most famous vessel ever built. The BBC report that it is the biggest launch Belfast’s waterfront has seen in a 100 years. The designer of this Northern Irish tourist attraction died of a suspected heart attack.
Titanic Belfast architect Eric Kuhne has died aged 64. Titanic Quarter Regeneration Project, Northern Ireland – design by TODD Architects / CivicArts Titanic Belfast Building, Visitor Centre, Northern Irish Architecture News, Picture, Eric Kuhne Design Titanic Belfast Building