AAI Site Visit: Queen's Quay, MMAS & OGU Architects

Meeting Point : Native, Queens Quay, Belfast BT3 9DB

Project Description:

Queen’s Quay is a new public space, canopy and kiosk project on a former industrial riverside in Belfast. It was conceived to help activate a piece of empty and inactive urban riverfront, lying between the city core and the historic docks. The aim was to create a civic node along the existing connection, that would be a landmark meeting and gathering place, hosting groups for events, workers for refreshment and spontaneous passers by to take the weight off. Temporary and demountable, the structure can be redeployed several times over its lifetime to other parts of the city, bringing people together in spaces that are otherwise empty and awaiting a more certain future.

In a city core lacking many quality public spaces for people to meet, rest or enjoy events, the design team attempted to elevate the basic function of a kiosk to a piece of public space and architecture that would have an inviting openness to the streets and space around it.

A tall and carefully proportioned double colonnaded frame gives a civic presence while demarking public space under and around. This was a particularly effective device in this emerging quayside route, aligning with the edge of the river and drawing in the flow of people along the quay. The material and detailing of this primary frame recalls the industrial history of the location and the loft iron roof structures of the former railway station.

Since opening in December 2024, Queen’s Quay has been transformed from an awkward and ill-defined ‘non-place’ to a vital nodal landmark, connecting the new and emerging parts of the city core while helping to bring Belfast into a more engaging and civic relationship with its formative River Lagan. It is a resting place for passing tourists, a meeting place for workers, a gathering place for runs and demonstrations and a stop-off for active travellers (along a key cycling route). Thanks to its proactive vendors Native and the curation and bravery of Belfast City Council and Maritime Trust, the space has become the location for open-air gigs and art exhibitions, crafting classes and public lectures. Having been i operation now for over six months, the project has been an exemplary demonstration of the transformative potential of carefully considered and thoughtfully designed temporary architecture.

Client: Belfast City Council with Maritime Belfast

Architect: MMAS + OGU Architects

Operator: Native

Contractor: Fabrite

Architects Statement :

MMAS is a design-focused architecture and urbanism practice founded in 2013 by Garreth McMahon and Fearghal Murray and based in Northern Ireland and Scotland. The practice was selected by the RIBA in 2017 as one of only nine UK-wide ‘Role Model Practices’ and was featured by the RIBA Journal as part of their ‘Future Winners’ series in 2021. Recent awards include an RIBA Award, the RSUA Living Places award, the AJ Small Projects Award and a Civic Trust Award.

Client and community-focused, we make buildings and places that are contextually sensitive and socially conscious. We work with critical rigour to develop innovative and crafted projects that efficiently and cost–effectively enhance the quality of everyday life.

OGU work with socially conscious clients and local communities to improve public places and buildings through careful research, material quality and meaningful collaboration with makers and manufacturers. As a practice, OGU try to tease out the particularities of a place in a way which resonates with people and the local communities in which they work through engagement with people, history and the site itself.

OGU is a dynamic and innovative practice led by directors Chris Upson and Dr Rachel O’Grady. The majority of the practice’s recent projects are for local authorities, public bodies, businesses, charities and community groups working on public spaces, public buildings and strategic urban design. OGU work at various scales from small, temporary interventions testing ideas and approaches to much larger-scale urban strategic work. The work of the practice is regularly featured in journals. Recent awards include the RIBA Future Winners, Trada Wood Award, Civic Trust Awards, Winner of the overall AJ Small Projects Award, several shortlisted projects for RIBA McEwen, Pineapple Placemaking Awards and DRIFT is currently shortlisted for this year's Dezeen awards. Both directors teach architecture at Queen’s University Belfast where Rachel has led a design studio since 2019.

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