Journal and News
Small Project Award
May 2023
Adelaide is collecting an amazing number of awards. It has recently been shortlisted for the Architects Journal ‘Small Projects award in a very strong field - see link here
Placemaking Conference
April 2023
Rachel was kindly invited to speak about the work of the practice at the Department for Communities Placemaking Conference at Queens University Belfast.
“Future Winner Award: OGU combines inventive ideas with the clout of solid research.”
April 2023
‘Welcome to our annual series on up-and-coming practices. Some of the five firms that follow are already award winners. Ones to watch, they are a dynamic group of practices, all less than 10 years’ old, from across the UK, with different stories, fascinations and ways of finding their groove in architecture’ RIBA Journal
The practice was featured in this months RIBA Journal. We were overjoyed to see our 2 Royal Avenue project also make the front cover. What a week…
Read the article here.
OGU combines inventive ideas with the clout of solid research.
Imagine Festival
March 2023
Rachel and Chris got a chance to speak about their work for Linen Quarter Bid at Blackstaff Square as part of the amazing Imagine Festival.
Adelaide Street Shortlisted for Pineapple Award
March 2023
The Adelaide Street Project made the shortlist for the prestigious Pineapple Awards as part of the Festival of Place.
Rachel and Chris presented the work live to the judges - link here.
2 Royal Avenue Reopens
February 2023
OGU Architects have been working for the last few months with Belfast City Council and artists Jonathan Ross, Beth Milligan Lyndsey McDougall and MMAS to reimagine the listed 2 Royal Avenue building as a new kind of public space in the city centre for Belfast. The official opening was held in the building as part of #latenightartBelfast. A brave and bold move by Belfast City Council - it has been great to see the space occupied in such a variety of ways over the last few weeks.
2 Royal Avenue offers a new type of public space for Belfast. It is designed to be a place to hang out, have events without the need to buy something.
Adelaide Street shortlisted for a McEwen Award
January 2023
OGU Architects got some amazing news to start the new year as Adelaide Street got shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects McEwen Awards. The awards celebrate architecture and urban design which is socially aware and for the common good. We are over the moon that all the hard work has paid off. Thanks to Belfast City Council and Department for Infrastructure for being brave about making places for people in Belfast.
OGU at the Tallinn Architecture Biennale
September 2022
OGU Architects installed their exhibit for ‘There is a forest in my backyard but my house is built from trees grown far away’ at Pohjala Galleries as part of the Tallinn Architecture Bienalle. The event was opened by the Irish Ambassador on 8th September 2022
Rachel and Chris spoke at the seminar. You can watch the original talk and look at the original installation as part of the Solstice event through the Irish Architecture foundation website here.
Built:East Pavilion wins Wood Award
November 2021
The Built:East Pavilion has won a prestigious Wood Award at a ceremony in the Building Centre on Thursday. A huge thanks to the RSUA for organising the design competition and JP Corry for sponsoring.
There was a huge team of people involved in the making of this project and thank yous go to all of them. You can read about the people who made it in the below exhibition help under the pavillion.
Built:East Exhibition 360 degree Virtual Tour
Photos are by Joe Laverty.
OGU Arcsoc Lecture
October 2021
Rachel was invited by the Architecture Society at Queens to give a lecture on the design and making of the pavillion alongside the most recent winners.
Ormeau Parklet RIBA McEwen Awards
December 2020
The Ormeau Parklet has been longlisted for the prestigious RIBA McEwen awards which recognise projects which have had a significant social value. This was a lovely way to end the year.
Town & City Centre Covid Recovery Strategy
December 2020
Our Town and City Centre Covid Recovery Strategy for Derry City and Strabane District Council has made it through committee and the first built interventions will now begin to take place.
The work has been reported on the BBC and various local newspapers.
Healthy Cities Award
December 2020
The Ormeau Parklet has won a healthy cities award. Great teamwork from all involved. The awards recognise the work undertaken by organisations across Belfast to improve the health and wellbeing of its citizens.
Ormeau Parklet Perspective Article
December 2020
The Ormeau Parklet made it onto the front cover of the RSUA journal Perspective. The article and online edition are located here.
Adelaide Street
November 2020
OGU have been appointed by Belfast City Council to complete demountable urban design proposals for Adelaide Street. The brief is about improving the pedestrian experience of the street and creating an outdoor Urban Gallery. Exciting - watch this space!
Wood Works Exhibition
October 2019
We are delighted to be invited by the Irish Architecture Foundation, The Estonian Association of Architects, Estonian Centre for Architecture and exhibition curators b210 and Alder Architects to be part of the Wood Works project exhibition ‘There is a forest in my backyard but my house is built from trees grown far away.
The exhibition curators from b210 and Alder Architects have designed a series of initial lectures which we will be part of where theoreticians, architects and industry experts from Estonia and Ireland shared their insights on the use of timber in construction, from forestry to demolition.
The main exhibition will be in the Solstice Arts Centre in March and then move to Tallinn.
Ormeau Road Consultation
June 2020
An inciteful assessment of Ormeau Road with Michael Lorimer (IMTAC) and local resident Joe Kenny about issues for visually impaired and disabled users. This has informed the design of our forthcoming Parklet.
RSUA
Ask an Architect
March 2020
OGU are taking part in this years ‘Ask an Architect’ scheme to raise money for the Friends of the Cancer Centre.
Civic Stage Studio
Jan 2020
Rachel begins working with her undergraduate studio Civic Stage for the second year running, this time looking at the future of “retail” in the centre of Derry / Londonderry, viewing the city as a series of performances.
Image Credit: Jack Wilton Cooley / Queen’s University Belfast
Women in Architecture Talk
November 2019
Rachel presented her career in Architecture along with 5 other prominent local female designers as part of the Women in Architecture event in the beautifully atmospheric pump house in the Ormeau Baths.
Belfast Design Week
November 2019
Rachel gave a talk on the theme of Power for Belfast Design Week.
Delamont House
Delamont House refurbishment and extension handed over for the Education Authority. This was a project Chris completed as project architect whilst working at Hall Black Douglas.
Some nice photos of the project recently completed by Emma Stewart photography can be found here.
RIBA Journal Article
October 2019
Hugh Pearman has written a lovely article about the Built:East Pavilion for the RIBA Journal. In addition, a photograph taken by Joe Laverty looking up at the Belfast Trusses of the pavilion made it to the front cover.
Housing Research London
October 2019
Rachel has completed a research trip with Queen’s University Belfast Stage 2 students to explore housing in London.
Built: East Pavilion article in Perspective Magazine
September 2019
The Built:East pavilion made the front cover of the RSUA Perspective Magazine.
Photos by Joe Laverty
Built:East Pavilion Opens
July 2019
The built: east pavillion is opened at C.S. Lewis square. The opening event is attended by the many people who helped to make it from the craftspeople and manufacturers, funders and locals.
It is lovely to see people begin to engage and inhabit the new public space.
Civic Stage Studio
Jan 2019
Rachel begins working with her undergraduate unit Civic Stage looking at the future of Belfast City Centre, viewing the city as a series of performances.
Image Credit: George Kelly / Queen’s University Belfast
Finland Research Trip
October 2018
Rachel has completed a trip with colleagues and Stage 3 students at Queens University Belfast to research architecture in Finland, particularly in Jyväskylä and Helsinki. The trip focussed on architecture designed for nordic light conditions with particular emphasis on the work of Alvar Aalto.
Venice Biennale
September 2018
Office trip to the Architecture Biennale in Venice curated by Grafton Architects.
India Research Trip
May 2018
Rachel has travelled to India on a research and engagement trip with Queens University in Belfast. Visiting a variety of secondary schools in UP and Uttarakhand, Rachel ran workshops for students interested in studying architecture.
Before travelling home, Rachel visited one of the projects featured in her PhD, the Buksh Museum of Hobbycraft, the final phase of which is now nearly completed.
Oval Space Opened
January 2018
London Borough of Tower Hamlets mayor John Biggs has opened the new public space in Bethnal Green.
The opening event was marked with a performance from the London International Gospel Choir, utilising the new integrated performance stage.
The space is also now regularly used for a night market.
Rachel has completed her PhD
January 2018
Over the past five years, Rachel has worked extensively with the Indian NGO CURE using collaborative projects to examine the creative potential of reviving architectural ‘heritage’ in Agra, north India. This work has formed the basis of her PhD by Project at London Metropolitan University.
One of the featured projects The Buksh Museum of Hobbycraft received an ASF-International Honorary Mention Award.
View the PhD and associated portfolio here.
RSUA Flare Competition win
October 2017
OGU with Donald McCrory Studio have won the inaugural Belfast Flare competition run by the RSUA. The competition promotes emerging architecture practices in Northern Ireland. Our proposals reimagine the Belfast truss in order to celebrate east Belfast’s contribution to the city’s industrial heritage. The design will be located opposite the now demolished Belfast Ropeworks (which was constructed with Belfast trusses) at C.S Lewis Square in east Belfast.
Porto Research Trip
October 2017
Rachel has completed a trip with colleagues and Stage 3 students at Queens University Belfast to research architecture in Porto. The trip focussed on the theme of food as well as taking in many projects by Alvaro Siza.
Open House London
September 2016
Cubitt Town Junior school and Whitehorse Road nursery have been included in the Open House London Architecture Festival.
Whitehorse Road Nursery Opens
August 2016
The extension to Whitehorse Road Nursery and Children’s centre for London Borough of Tower Hamlets has opened.
Cubitt Town Junior School Hall opens
June 2016
The new multi-functional hall at Cubitt Town Junior School has opened to students. Thanks to bespoke moveable furniture, the hall can be used for a variety of lessons from science to sports.