Ormeau Parklet
The Ormeau Parklet is a demountable urban installation located along part of the Ormeau Road in Belfast. The project tests an alternative, pedestrian-focussed approach to public streets in Belfast: a city where vehicular transport tends to take priority. The pavement was extended over a small number of parking spaces during the pandemic lockdown period in order to facilitate safe distancing for pedestrians and also to provide a place that hospitality businesses could use to serve food and drink outside when guidance allowed. It also supports eight new spaces for cycle parking. The parklet continues to be enjoyed to this date.
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MMAS, Belfast Buildings Trust, Department for Infrastructure, Queens University Belfast, Belfast City Council, Inclusive Mobility & Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC), Local Businesses + Residents.
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Shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects McEwen Awards 2021 (rewarding architecture and urban design with social value), Healthy Cities Award 2021
This project achieved the realisation of the first parklet (replacement of parking spots with pedestrian-focussed public space) in Northern Ireland. It demonstrates how architecture and design on a modest scale can transform public spaces in NI and contribute to the recovery of cities post-pandemic. As city and town centres change in the coming years, there has never been a greater need for testing ideas. If the right models of partnership and procurement are adopted, the creative imagination of architects can offer public bodies, businesses, community organisations and local residents urban solutions that will not only create safer spaces in the short term, but will test ideas about how our future towns and cities are resilient, creative, sustainable and inspiring places to live and work.
The team converted a small number of on-street parking spaces into pavement. This additional space can be used by the public and by cafes and restaurants for business purposes.
In Spring 2020, a group of professionals from different fields met via social media after sharing similar ideas online. They had discovered a shared belief that Belfast’s urban spaces needed to be transformed to support people through the pandemic. Belfast Buildings Trust, OGU Architects, MMAS Architects and lecturers from Queen’s University Belfast met online to discuss how they could initiate an urban project to improve part of the Ormeau Road.
Once the two architecture practices involved had decided upon key design decisions with the other core team members, they began to discuss the technical aspects with local manufacturing partners. At this point there was no funding in place and a strategy for procurement and implementation was needed. Taking advantage of existing relationships with local manufacturers, the architects arranged the rapid development of prototype components at risk whilst funding was still being sought.
Both the concrete and corten components were manufactured in Northern Ireland. It was important that the project supported as many local businesses as possible at this time. Planting was also designed, supplied and installed by a florist located opposite the site. The quality of the plants was important to the team, wishing to set an example for urban projects across Northern Ireland to increase planting and support biodiversity wherever possible. The plants were chosen to provide colour through autumn and winter, and local residents helped to set them in place. Quality was a priority despite the rapid construction time, so that the parklet could be an uplifting place for people to spend time in a period that has been difficult for many. The warmth and pattern of the corten steel, investment in a variety of plants, bespoke cycle stands and addition of a tactile surface coating (also crucial to provide the necessary floor contrast and ‘feel’ to aid those with visual impairment) were all chosen to add to the sensory experience of the parklet and make it a place that people could enjoy all year round.
Expanding Public Space: Concept Sketch of the Ormeau Parklet
Impact
Queen’s University Belfast:
“The final result of this research will hopefully help inform future tactical interventions in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland.”
Partnership with engaged client Belfast Buildings Trust and close collaboration with DfI, BCC and IMTAC ensured that this was the first parklet to be delivered in Northern Ireland. An advice document co-authored by the team describes the parklet partnership model in more detail and was sent to decision makers across Northern Ireland. This was crucial in DfI’s creation of the Parklet Streetworks Licence, allowing many other public space projects in Northern Ireland to be constructed during and after the pandemic period.
BELFAST CITY COUNCIL
“Earlier this year, Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities and Department for Infrastructure agreed A Bolder Vision for the city that provides a blueprint for how our streets and public spaces are designed and used to meet the changing needs of a diverse range of users. Drawing upon the Vision, Council has been working with partners across the city to create attractive, accessible, safe and vibrant spaces and support existing businesses and encouraging inclusive growth as part of the city’s recovery.
Collaboration and co-design of projects is central to Council’s approach because it results in local ownership and better -quality projects to meet local needs. The Ormeau Parklet initiative is a great example of what can be achieved when statutory and civic partners work together to be innovative and trial new ideas based on high-quality design. This is particularly important in light of the challenges facing local communities and businesses as they navigate the ongoing pandemic and its aftermath.
In this case, Council has been able to support Belfast Buildings Trust to deliver the initiative through partnership working and Covid19 Revitalisation funding, supported by Department for Communities and the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. The parklet demonstrates a local, best practice approach to place- making that not only creates more space for people, but also shows how businesses are diversifying and adapting their premises. By taking an enabling role, Council has been able to support delivery and learn lessons that can be applied to similar projects in other parts of the city.”
THE INCLUSIVE MOBILITY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE (IMTAC)
“IMTAC is delighted to have been involved in the development of the Ormeau Parklet. We believe the project is a great example of inclusive engagement and collaboration. In particular we would praise the positive approach taken by the architects (OGU/ MMAS) in engaging directly with disabled people to inform the parklet design.
In many ways the COVID-19 pandemic has added to existing barriers experienced by disabled people using our streets and pavements. The Ormeau Parklet has successfully sought to reduce and remove some of these barriers by creating inclusive, accessible additional space and removing clutter from the existing footway.
IMTAC believes the parklet provides an excellent template for similar projects across Northern Ireland, both in terms of specific responses to COVID-19 but also generally in making our public realm and streets more people focused.”
Journal Front Cover: Ormeau Partlet Article about the project as the first parklet in Northern Ireland and the process to achieve it.
Process
Community Planting Day with local volunteers for Opening
Close Collaboration with the DfI
Early discussions took place between the architects and the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to better understand how such a project could be achieved technically. The Ormeau Road is a busy trunk road and a project such as this one had not been constructed before in Northern Ireland. DfI were extremely supportive from the start as it began to take shape as an urban prototype. This collaborative trialling and research-based design approach between DfI and the architects was critical to the success of the project.
Close Collaboration with IMTAC
Early in the process, the team walked the Ormeau Road with IMTAC to understand the issues along Ormeau in terms of accessible design and difficulties for those who are visually impaired or using wheelchairs or mobility scooters. The pandemic had exacerbated the problems at several pinch points for everyone. At this point three sites had been selected as possible locations for the parklet and these were discussed with local businesses to gauge interest. Following these conversations, one site was chosen and a more in- depth consultation process with the adjacent businesses was carried out.
Balancing Demountability with Robustness
The location of the project on a trunk road meant that boundary treatments needed to be safe and robust. However, the structure also had to be demountable so that the project could function as a trial and adapt in future if necessary. The team was also conscious that as a trial project designed for simple disassembly, the building components should be able to be taken away and easily reused in order not to waste materials. For the project to be replicable, it needed to represent value for money and be easily and quickly assembled on site. For these reasons, precast concrete agricultural units were selected that could arrive on a truck and be quickly lifted into position. Bespoke prefabricated corten screens and bicycle stands could also be rapidly delivered and installed.
Rethinking the Architect’s Role in Placemaking in Northern Ireland
As a prototype and trial project, one of the core project aims was to develop a model of delivering temporary urban interventions with partners from multiple sectors that reflects the important role architects play within this model, not just in terms of ‘concept’ or ‘technical design’ but also in terms of strategy design, engagement, coordination and fundraising. This project required a flexible, collaborative approach with the various organisations facilitating rapid delivery. Belfast Buildings Trust acted as the client figurehead for the design phase, with the Department for Infrastructure installing items supplied through various funders on the ground. It was critical to this project that the architects were involved from the beginning. If these projects are to be replicated quickly the procurement model is also vital to ensure that projects can be delivered at speed and with quality, prototyping with local, skilled manufacturers.