2 Royal Avenue is a listed building designed by William J. Barre for the Belfast branch of the Provincial Bank of Ireland. It was completed shortly after his death in 1869. Located in the historic heart of Belfast, it was primarily a bank for most of its life until it was extended and utilised as a Tesco supermarket branch from the mid–nineties until late 2021.
Belfast City Council saw an opportunity to create a new kind of public space within 2 Royal Avenue. The long term function and viability of the building are being tested through a meanwhile phase. Within a working collaboration between ourselves, OGU Architects and local artists (Jonathan Ross, Beth Milligan and Lyndsey McDougall) we have been commissioned to reimagine the space as a new urban room and public space for Belfast during this meanwhile phase.
The entrance area is a beautiful 19th century bank building with light coming in through the central dome. However, the rear of the building was only designed to house aisles for the supermarket – leaving low ceilings and no natural light, and resulting in people staying out of the space unless there were specific programmed events.
The team suggested that the low ceiling tiles could be removed and the space broken up with suspended fabrics to improve the spatial and acoustic quality in a cost effective way. Artists Beth Milligan and Lyndsey McDougall have made simple yet beautiful hand crafted works to realise this intention. Working in collaboration artist Jonathan Ross, the team has interpreted the idea of a series of internal timber landscapes in mdf and ply. The landscape includes spaces for children to inhabit and explore and a kiosk for a social enterprise to provide drinks and food. It is now a calm, relaxing space to have a coffee, do some work, read a book, study, hang out or attend one of the many events.
2 Royal Avenue is a listed building designed by William J. Barre for the Belfast branch of the Provincial Bank of Ireland. It was completed shortly after his death in 1869. Located in the historic heart of Belfast, it was primarily a bank for most of its life until it was extended and utilised as a Tesco supermarket branch from the mid–nineties until late 2021.
Belfast City Council saw an opportunity to create a new kind of public space within 2 Royal Avenue. The long term function and viability of the building are being tested through a meanwhile phase. Within a working collaboration between ourselves, OGU Architects and local artists (Jonathan Ross, Beth Milligan and Lyndsey McDougall) we have been commissioned to reimagine the space as a new urban room and public space for Belfast during this meanwhile phase.
The entrance area is a beautiful 19th century bank building with light coming in through the central dome. However, the rear of the building was only designed to house aisles for the supermarket – leaving low ceilings and no natural light, and resulting in people staying out of the space unless there were specific programmed events.
The team suggested that the low ceiling tiles could be removed and the space broken up with suspended fabrics to improve the spatial and acoustic quality in a cost effective way. Artists Beth Milligan and Lyndsey McDougall have made simple yet beautiful hand crafted works to realise this intention. Working in collaboration artist Jonathan Ross, the team has interpreted the idea of a series of internal timber landscapes in mdf and ply. The landscape includes spaces for children to inhabit and explore and a kiosk for a social enterprise to provide drinks and food. It is now a calm, relaxing space to have a coffee, do some work, read a book, study, hang out or attend one of the many events.