“Other than an Architect, it takes two things to give opportunity for good architecture; an inspiring location and an enlightened and enthusiastic client.”

These two attributes were offered in the case of The Boat, when my longest standing client, Harry Dougherty, asked if I would be interested in designing a really exciting piece of architecture, in response to a Laganside Development Initiative, on one of the most significant and historic urban locations in Belfast.

The development site at the corner of Donegal Quay and Queen’s Square, lies within a few metres of the mouth of the Farset River, which from the corresponding Irish translation, Beal Feirste, Belfast derived its name. Whilst this prompts the need to provide a building of significance, it is its important urban location and surrounding context that drives the evolution of the architectural form.

The site sits on the edge of the city and forms a gateway point to one of Belfast’s major streets, High Street, which leads directly to the heart of the city.

The consequential importance of this location and the small size of the site, demand the formation of a tall, slender tower.

The three dimensional form of the tower is dictated by three contextual influences.

The gently radiused curve of the facade facing the Lagan addresses the grand panoramic views which pan from Belfast Lough, along the Lagan and round to the Waterfront Hall, its deep timber brise soleil emulating a sweeping, welcoming gesture to Custom House Square and the city beyond.

Angled to face towards the recently landscaped Custom House Square and its many activities, this respective facade meets that facing the Lagan at a distinct acute angle thus creating a resemblance to the bow of a boat.
Since views and aspect generate these two facades, full storey height glazing forms an obvious material selection here.

On the other hand, the remaining facades which face into abutting properties and the bus station yard demand a solid application which also acts in contrast to their fully glazed counterparts. Non natural light dependant accommodation, such as stairways, occupy space along these particular external walls thereby permitting the remaining walls of the accommodation to be fully glazed, through which views may be enjoyed.

Harry Dougherty’s brief was to include a mixed use development which would bring work, leisure and living experiences to this waterfront location.

Probably the first true mixed use development of its kind in Belfast, the accommodation includes a bar and restaurant at ground and first floor, which creates appropriate activity at this level, work space on eight floors above this, and to take advantage of the magnificent all round views, apartments on the top four levels.

The apartments, which are set back from the lower facades to provide open space at the tenth floor level, with their differently orientated canted roofs and associated sculptured roof top plant space form an elegant crown to the tower, and skyline interest especially when viewed from approaches from the east of the city and across the Lagan.

The overall resultant ‘funky’ asymmetric architectural form is complimentarily exaggerated by the apparent random placing of large, coloured, picture framed balconies along the facades to the workspaces, a pattern which is repeated in the location of balconies which serve the apartments above.

Contrary to what is commonly believed, the design of the architecture was not pre-determined to resemble the form of a boat.

As with quite a few, so called, iconic buildings, as the designs evolved, the architectural form took on a personality of its own.  Soon architectural staff, followed by Belfast Planning officers and then people in the street, were calling it ‘The Boat’ and that is the name that has stuck. Some say that this is my ‘swan song’.  Who knows?

Harry said it was going to be his. I don’t think so and certainly hope not.

It takes a client with this enthusiasm, imagination and commercial bravery to commission a piece of architecture such as this.

This is what Belfast needs.

Barrie Todd

Director / Senior Architect