inaugural lecture

Early evening at the end of April saw the opening of the University of Ulster’s architectural society, Architek10. Our new society opened with a lecture from BD Young Architects of the Year 2008, Hackett Hall McKnight. As architects and custodians of the city, HHMcK take pride in Belfast whilst engaging with the many positive elements in their city. Clarity, robustness and truthfulness of structure as well as a passion for the city as a subject, typifies this young offices architecture. The practice performs various exercises in mapping the city and observing cultural and societal shifts, all of which the practice use as a basis for their architectural responses. With their principle architects having worked in practices in Dublin, Berlin and London, HHMcK brought to light interesting observations on the city.

An inspiring lecture, it was warmly received by the attending students and staff alike. Having opened the lecture with their first major commission, the Museum Arts Centre (the MAC) other mentioned works included the Fishbone project, St Anne’s Spire competition entry, one off private residential schemes such as Dowling House and Oakland Avenue, not to mention the scheme that launched the practice, the Lyric Theatre competition entry.

Anchoring the corner of St Anne’s Square, the MAC is the practices first large commission. With a comprehensive understanding of history, place and nostalgia, the MAC is a distinctly appropriate response to the brief and will become a new addition to the Merchant quarter as well as a contemporary addition to the city skyline. Along with galleries, performance, dance and rehearsal spaces, the public spaces actively work with the spatial characteristics of the merchant city. A vibrant hub in the city, the site will become a landmark to link the proposed relocation of the University of Ulster and Cathedral Quarter. It is anticipated the MAC will become not only a visual landmark but also a cultural landmark for Belfast.

A pavilion in a building, the Fishbone project employs clever spatial planning tactics to create different spaces with varied use and qualities. This scheme is a useful precedent for any student of architecture in economy and use of space.

Awarded joint first place, The Lyric Theatre competition entry sparked the judge’s arousal as it was conceived as a meeting place along the riverfront on the edge of the city, offering up a space for the city.

Posing the notion that the building is a character in the sentence that is the city summarises HHMcK’s impressive yet varied portfolio of work. A portfolio devised by a young practice who have investigated their city in order to understand and respond appropriately yet with zest for cutting edge architectural design.

Fiona Shannon - 6th year MArch student

[image of st anne's spire competition taken from http://www.hhmck.com]

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