This competition is for proposals to regenerate the former site of a security facility in an area of Belfast that suffered greatly from the effect of Northern Ireland’s political conflict over more than 30 years, a time that became known simply as “the Troubles”.

 

The Northern Ireland Department for Social Development see the construction of the Expo West building as a statement of the Department's determination to regenerate an area that witnessed the worst effects of conflict.

 

The Department for Social Development sees the redevelopment of the former Andersonstown Police Station site as an opportunity to showcase regeneration in holistic terms, highlighting the interconnected potential of cultural, economic, social and physical regeneration. DSD require that any building on the site include a large space for displaying regeneration initiatives such as Andersonstown Gateway together with offices for workers engaged in regeneration activity.

 

There is currently an ongoing review of Library provision in Belfast and the current Andersonstown Library is one of the facilities likely to be closed. However there was strong community support demonstrated during the PLACE & WBPB brief development process for the former barracks site to be considered for a modern, replacement library-type development.

 

This would include a community archive, local history section, genealogy resources and mediatheque co-located with the regeneration exhibition facility, offices and a community arts space.

 

The role of the proposed redevelopment includes social, economic and cultural regeneration and sustainability objectives. The development includes a modern library-type facility, arts resource, regeneration offices and exhibition/event space and some aspect of open space or landscape.

 

For more information, please contact: riba.competitions@inst.riba.org