North street

I nt er v ent i on&Adapt at i on Cr oi naF r eeman

Nor t hSt r eetBel f as t MAr chy earone.

Cr oi naF r eeman Nor t hSt r eeti sar guabl yt hel i nchpi nofBel f as t ,i tr emai nsasoneoft heol des ts t r eet si nBel f as t .

I nr ecenty ear st hedecl i neofnor t hs t r eeti sev i dent ,s i gni f i cantbui l di ngshav ebeendemol i s hed t omakewayf ors uppos ed‘ T empor ar y ’Carpar ks ,andbeaut i f ul bui l di ngsr emai nundert hr eat f r om dev el oper s .Butwhatdi dt hi soncet hr i v i ngs t r eethav et oof f ert hatmadei ts os ucces s f ul i nt heear l y19t hcent ur y ?

Nor t hSt r eethous edt heat r es ,ci nemas ,bal l r oomsandev enas hoppi ngar cade,i twasapl ace wher epeopl ecoul dcomef r om al l wal ksofl i f e.Nor t hs t r eetpr ov i dedt heev er y dayneedsoft he l ocal communi t yt hatgr ewf r om t hel ocal cot t onmi l l ,Smi t hf i el dmar ketwasanur bant r eas ur e t r ov eofev er y t hi ngf r om bookst obi r ds ,( mos t l y )any t hi ngy ouwant edcoul dbef oundatt he mar ket .

Sowhatr emai nsoft hi soncebus t l i ngBel f as ts t r eet ?af ews mal l s hops ,mos tnot abl yi ndependentbooks hopsi nr undownbui l di ngs ,t hi scoul dar guabl yaddt ot hei rchar m.If ound my s el fl ooki ngatt heendl es sr owsofbooksf orqui t es omet i meoneaf t er noon,f i ndi ngmany manyl i t er ar ygemsamongt hemes sofbookss t ackedasf arast heey ecoul ds ee.Li s t eni ngt o t heconv er s at i onsofr egul arv i s i t or s ,andt hel ookofs ur pr i s ei npeopl esf aceast heyent ert he t i nydoor wayf orwhatmus tonl ybet hei rf i r s tt i me.

Nor t hs t r eetwasonceknownf ori t sar t sandcr af t s ,t hear cadear guabl ybei ngt hes t ar t i ngpoi nt ofwhati snowknownast he cul t ur al quar t er .TheAr cadi aCaf e,hos t i ngt hef i r s topenmi c ni ght sf orpoet s ,wr i t er sandcomedi ans ,apl acet oal l owt hear t i s tcommuni t yt ocomet oget her .

Thi swasoneoft hemos tnot abl el os s est ot hecommuni t ywhent hear cadewasf i r edamaged i n2005.

Thr oughoutt hef i r s ty earofMas t er sIwaswor ki ngaspar tofagr oupof14t odi s cov ermor e aboutNor t hs t r eetaswel l asputf or war dpr opos i t i onsf oranur bani nt er v ent i on( Semes t er1) andachi l dr en' snur s er y( Semes t er2)

Nor t hSt r eetPar kl et s /Ur banI nt er v ent i ons Pav ement smakeupabi gpar toft heur banf abr i cofanyt ownorci t y ,t heyar eani mpor t antpar toft he ur banl ands capeandcanof t enbeov er l ookedi nr edev el opmentorUr banDes i gn. “ Thepav ementi sanex t ens i onoft hehous ef l oor ’ ’ TheI t al i anwor df orpav ementdoesnotdi f f er ent i at ebet weent hehous ef l oorandt heex t er nal pav ement ,I t al yi shomet os omeoft hebes tex ampl esofpav ement des i gn,wi t hdet ai l edmos ai csandcar ef ul l ypl aceds t ones .“Acar ef ul l ydet ai l edf l oor s capeal s oex pr es s est he v al uesoft hecommuni t ywhoi nv es tcar eands k i l l i nt hes eemi ngl ymundanef l ooroft heci t y ” ( Cr owehur s tl ennar d) TheMat er i al s ,s hapes ,t ex t ur esandpat t er nsaf f ectt heov er al l ex per i enceofas t r eetandi nNor t hs t r eet t her ei sawi dev ar i et yofmat er i al st hatmakeupt heur banl ands cape.Nor t hs t r eeti soneoft heol des t s t r eet si nBel f as t ,nei ghbour i ngSmi t hf i el dmar ketwhi chi nt he19t hcent ur ywasoneoft hebus i es tar easi n t heCi t y .Nor t hs t r eeti smai nl yr emember edf ori t ss hopsandt hepeopl ewhol i v edt her e,i twasat hr i v i ng communi t ywher eev er y onekneweachot her ,i ndependents hopswer eki ng,f orex ampl eMcMur r ay swher e manypeopl er eci t ememor i esofbuy i ngt hei rs chool uni f or ms ,Wool wor t hsandKav anaghsbutt onamea f ew.Thecons t r uct i onofCas t l ecour tr es ul t edi nmanyoft hes ei ndependents hopst ocl os edownandt he communi t ybegant odi mi ni s handt hecondi t i onoft hes t r eetwi t hi t .

Thes amecar ef ul s ki l l sofpav ementandr oadar el os tonNor t hs t r eet ,i nt hel as tcent ur yt hecar ef ul l yl ai d s t ones et t swhi chuni f i edt hes t r eethav ebeencov er edwi t hAs phal tandt heconcr et epav i ngs t oneshav e beenr epl acedwi t hbl ocks et t sandBi t umen.Thi si st hecas ef ormos tofBel f as t ,wi t ht heex cept i onofHi l l s t r eetl ocat edi nt hecat hedr al quar t eroft heci t y ,t hi spl acehol dsi t sownchar act erwhi chcoul dbeat t r i but edt ot hemat er i al st hatmakeupt hel ands cape.Woul dHi l l St r eetbeasmemor abl ewi t houtt hecobbl es t oner oad?

Nor t hs t r eeti sdi v i dedbyRoy al Av enue,andt hedi f f er encesbet weent het woendsoft hes t r eeti sobv i -

ous ,mai nl yduet ot hemat er i al sont hegr oundandt hecondi t i onoft hebui l di ngs ,t hes t r eet s eemst obeanaf t er t hought ,bor der i ngt wocons er v at i onar easoft heci t ycent er ,i ti sagat eway t ot heci t yandt henewl ydev el opedcat hedr al quar t er ,t her ef ori ts eemss t r anget hatt hi ss i gni f i cants t r eethasbeenl ef ti nas t at eofdi s r epai r .

Hav i ngl ookedatt hepat chwor kofmat er i al st hatex i s tcur r ent l yonNor t hs t r eeti hav epr opos eda s er i esofUr banI nt er v ent i onst hatex t endt hepav ement s ,pl acesf orpeopl eandact i v i t i est hatdo notcur r ent l yex i s tont hes t r eet s capewhi chcoul di naddi t i onenhancet her emai ni ngbus i nes s es ar oundt hes echos enar eas .Thef i r s ti nt er v ent i on‘ Ar t ’i spr opos edf orUpperNor t hs t r eet ,ut i l i l i s i ngt wopar ki ngs pacesout s i deLof tGal l er y ,t hi si nt er v ent i onwi l l al l owf orAr tt obedi s pl ay ed, peopl et os i tdownorev enpl ayont hei ns t al l at i on,apl acef orr es tandcont empl at i on.Thi ss pace coul dal s obeus edf orev ent ss uchast hepopul arDr i nkandDr awhel dbyt hegal l er y ,aswel l as t hi s ,t her ei spot ent i al f orl ocal ar t i s t st ohol dex hi bi t i onsi nt hi sout doorar ts t udi o.Thi sur ban s pacewoul dbecons t r uct edf r om r ecl ai medmat er i al s ,pr obabl yt hos emat er i al sf oundi nar ts t udi os ,pai nts pl at t er edt i mber ,mov eabl ef ur ni t ur eandbes pokedi s pl ayands eat i ngpos s i bl ycr eat edf ort hes pacebyl ocal ar t i s t s .

Thes econdoft hes ei nt er v ent i onswi l l bel ocat edov ert wopar ki ngs pacesatt heent r ancet owr i t er ss quar e,t hi sper f or mancei nt er v ent i onwasi ns pi r edbyt heAr cadi aCof f eeShopt hatus edt o bel ocat edi nNor t hSt r eetAr cade,t hi swasoneoft hef i r s tpl acesi nBel f as tt hathel dPoet r yopen mi cni ght sandat t r act edal ar gef ol l owi ng.Af t ert hef i r ei n2005t heCof f ees hopceas edt oex i s t , andt hehear toft hecommuni t ywasl os t ,al t hought her ear enewv enuesf orpoet r yandt hear t s , not hi ngcanr epl aceAr cadi a.

Ar tI nt er v ent i on

‘ . .Butl ookcl os erandy ou' l l f i ndpoet r yi nt hebar sandcaf esoft heQuar t er ,s omet i meswhi s per ed, s omet i mescr i edandal way swondr ous ’ ’ I ns pi r edbyt hi sf ol l owi ngandt hecont ex toft hes i t ewhi chi sabs t r act l yr emi ni s centofanamphi t heat er ,t hei nt er v ent i onwi l l actasapubl i cs pacef ors eat i ngandper f or mance,Mus i c,dr amaor s pokenwor d.

Thet hi r di nt er v ent i ononLowerNor t hSt r eeti sl ocat edoppos i t eKeat sandChapmanbooks hop, adens el ypackedbooks hopf i l l edwi t h2ndhandbooks .Out s i deoft hes hopi sl ocat edas mal l t abl ewher et hes ebookss pi l l outf r om t hes hopt ot hes t r eet ,mypr opos al ex t endst hi st abl et o or manceI nt er v ent i on t heoppos i t es i deoft hes t r eetont oani nt er v ent i ont hati ncl udesal endi ngl i br ar y ,wher epeopl e Perf canbr i ngunwant edbooksandl eav et hem i nas pacewher epeopl ecanbor r owt hem.Thi si nt er v ent i onwi l l al s oi ncl udes eat i ngf orpeopl et oconv er s e,r eadors i mpl ywat cht hewor l dgoby . ‘ Peopl esl ov eofwat chi ngact i v i t yandot herpeopl ei scons t ant l yev i denti nci t i esev er y wher e’( The deat handl i f eofgr eatAmer i canCi t i es ,JaneJacobs ,page37) .Thei nt er v ent i onwoul dbecons t r uct edf r om r ecl ai medmat er i al s ,t i mberboar ds ,f ur ni t ur e,anddi s pl aycas es ,ar ef l ect i onoft he i nt er i oroft heex i s t i ngbooks hop.

Thes ei nt er v ent i onscoul dbeas t epi nt her i ghtdi r ect i onf orr ei nt r oduci ngt heact i v i t yt hatonce f i l l edt hes t r eet ,wi t hr ecent l yappr ov edpl anni ngpr opos al st her ei sgoi ngt obeani nf l uxofpeopl e l i v i ngi npr opos edbui l di ngsont hes t r eetandwi t hf ewopt i onswi t hr egar dt opubl i cs pacei nt he ar ea.Thei nt er v ent i onscanal s obeus edasat r af f i cbuf f er ,att hemomentf as tmov i ngt r af f i c mov esdownt hel engt hofnor t hs t r eet ,cr eat i nganuncomf or t abl eenv i r onmentt owal kdown.

Nor t hSt r eetAr cadeNur s er y :

Readi ngI nt er v ent i on

“ Hi s t or i cpr es er v at i oncl ear l ydoesmuchmor et hanpr es er v ebr i ck sandmor t ar .I tr ecogni z est hatour bui l thi s t or yconnect susi nt angi bl eway swi t hourpas tandpr ov i descont ex tf ort hepl aceswe occupyandt hewor l dwel i v ei n.I tf us esar twi t hcr af t s mans hi p,capaci t yf ormoder nut i l i t ywi t hembodi edener gy ,andpr ogr es s i v ei deasf oreconomi cr ev i t al i z at i onwi t ht r adi t i onal aut hent i ci t y . ” Cr ai gPot t s ,Ex ecut i v eDi r ect oroft heKent uckyHer i t ageCounci l andSt at eHi s t or i cPr es er v at i on Of f i cer Bel f as tci t ycent r ei si nt hemi ds tofanumberofl ar gedev el opments chemes ,i ncl udi ngt heex pans i onoft heUni v er s i t yofUl s t erBel f as tcampus ,andal s ot headdi t i onofs t udenthous i ngon Yor ks t r eet .Thi sex pans i onoft heUl s t ercampusi sr es ul t i ngi nnumber spr opos al sf ors t udent accommodat i onacr os st heci t y ,howev er ,t her ei s( atpr es ent )nopr ov i s i onsf ors t udent swho hav echi l dr en.Att hemomentt her ear ev er yf ewnur s er y / pr es chool swi t hi nt heci t ycent r e,any r es i dent si nt hi sar eahav et ot r av el upwar dsofami l et ogai nacces st ot hes ef aci l i t i es .

Af t ercompl et i ngs emes t er1anal y s i s ,t hi ss emes t ermygr ouphaschos enanar eaonl ower Nor t hSt r eetf orourpr opos al s .Thef or merNor t hSt r eetAr cadewi l l bemychos enl ocat i onf ora newCi t yCent r echi l dr enact i v i t ys pacet hes pacewi l l hous eupt o90chi l dr eni nt hr eehome r ooms .

Thear cadei t ss el fi sB1l i s t ed,t hi smeanst hati tr emai nsasagoodex ampl eofar chi t ect ur al s t y l e,i nt hi scas eVi ct or i anandAr tDeco,TheAr cadewascompl et edi n1937,hav i ngs ur v i v ed t heBl i t zandI RAbombi ngi ts us t ai nedmaj ordamagei nanar s onat t acki n2004l eav i ngt he pr emi s esi nas t at eofdi s r epai r .Pr ev i ouspl anni ngcons ul t at i onst ogai nl i s t edbui l di ngcons ent hasr es ul t edi nt hel i s t edbui l di ngcommi t t eer ecommendi ngt hatr es t or i ngt hear cadei s’ T ant amountt odemol i t i on’ ,t her ef ori pr opos et okeept hemai nundamageds t eel s t r uct ur eoft he bui l di ngandf acadesast hes t ar t i ngpoi ntf ormypr opos al .

Themai nconceptf ort hebui l di ngi st oal l owt hechi l dr ent oi nhabi tnotonl yt heex i s t i ngar cade s pacebutal s ohav et heabi l i t yt ocl i mbandpl ay ,i n,onandar oundt heex i s t i ngs t r uct ur e.Wi t h t hi si nmi ndmyf i r s ts t epswer et oes t abl i s hus eabl es paceswi t hi nt heex i s t i ngf l oorpl an,r emov i ngs omei nt er i orwal l st ocr eat el ar gers pacest obeus edashomer ooms .Theconceptof bui l di ngast ex tbookwasadr i v erbehi ndt hepr opos al ,t r ans par encyandopenpl ans paces meanst hatact i v i t i escanbepas s i v el ys uper v i s edf r om mos tar easoft hes pace.notonl ywas t hi si mpor t antf ors uper v i s i ngt hechi l dr en,butal s oi nl es s eni ngt hel i kel i hoodt hatt hechi l dr en woul dbeov er whel medbyt hebui l di ngast heywoul di mmedi at el yknowt hel ocat i onofdi f f er ent act i v i t i esass oonast heyent er edt hebui l di ng.Att heweekendst heact i v i t ys pacecanbe openedupt ot hepubl i c,t oal l owf oras pacewher epar ent sandchi l dr encango,hav ecof f ee andpar t i ci pat ei nact i v i t i es ,s omet hi ngt hati sl acki ngi nt heci t ycent r eatt hemoment .Theex pos eds t r uct ur eswoul dal l owt hechi l dr ent os eehowt hebui l di ngwor ks ,v i s ual l yl ear ni ngf r om t hebui l di ngt heyi nhabi t ,t huss t r engt heni ngt hei ni t i al bui l di ngast ex t bookconcept ,whi l s tal s o i ncor por at i ngi deast hati hav er es ear chedf orbot hdes i gns t udi oandmydi s s er t at i on‘ Lear ni ng Env i r onment s-Theev ol ut i onoft hes chool model ’ .

Pl ay i ngouti nnat ur ei soneoft hemos ti mpor t antas pect sofay oungchi l dsl i f e,l ear ni ngabout l i v i ngt hi ngs ,ex pl or i ngandenabl i ngi magi nat i v epl ayai dsi nt heemot i onal andphy s i cal dev el opmentofchi l dr en.Wi t ht hi si nmi ndi des i gnedagar dent oaccompanyt hechi l dr ensact i v i t y cent r e,t her ei snoconv ent i ona pl ay gr oundequi pment ,nos af et yf l oor s ,j us ta‘ f or es t ’oft r ees andgr eener y .I naddi t i ont ot hi si hav edes i gnedi nhabi t abl ewal l st hatwi l l i nkt hehomer ooms wi t ht heex t er nal env i r onment .Thi ss t r uct ur et r uel yr ef l ect st heconceptofchi l dr eni nhabi t i ng t hes t r uct ur east heyar eact ual l yi ns i det hewal l s .Thes ewal l sar ef l ex i bl e,s us t ai nabl eands af e, atnopoi ntwi t hi nt hewal l scant hechi l dr enf al l any mor et han1met er ,ar easoft r ans par ency al l owt hechi l dr ent ol ookoutatt hegar denori nt ot hehomer ooms ,whi l s ts ecr etdoor s ,s l i des andl adder sal l owt hechi l dr ent of ul l yappr eci at et hi s‘ NoAdul t sAl l owed’s pace.Thr oughout t heent i r ebui l di ngar el i t t l er es ts pacesf orchi l dr en,wher et heycans i tqui et l yorpl ay ,whi l s tobs er v i ngwhati sgoi ngoni nt hei rs ur r oundi ngs .