Projective Spatial Narratives

02 Projective spatial narratives

02 Projective Spatial Narratives

Project 2: Projective Spatial Narratives Site: Antrim Arms Hotel Characteristics of Site Context History of the Antrim Arms Five Spaces Appendix

Project 2 Projective spatial narratives

“…we tried to illustrate our faith in an architecture whose role it would be to make new insertions in an existing lived in world, simultaneously mediocre and sublime, always inspiring, exactly because of the insolubility of its contradictions.

Insertions that would acknowledge and enhance the context they find, and which at best would provoke subtle mutations, in the tradition of modernity.”

t ke ar M

n An

re St

et

e Str et Fairhill Street

Castle Street

Old Train Station

Mill Street

site: Antrim Arms Hotel The Antrim Arms Hotel was established on Castle Street in Ballycastle between 1780-1800 as a means of housing visitors staying in the town.

Soon after its establishment heavy industry brought an influx of people to Ballycastle, consequently the Antrim Arms Hotel grew to accommodate these people, establishing a new street, Fair-hill Street.

The growth continued throughout the 19th Century, to the back of the site, a new industrial hub emerged, Mill Street. Here light Industry, powered by the Tow River made flour and leather from cow hides, these goods were exported to nearby towns using Ballycastle’s railway [now disused].

The demand for these goods gradually wained forcing the majority of the industries to close, the Antrim Arms Hotel turned the abandoned buildings into a shared space for it’s residents.

This rich history is immortalized in the boundary wall which still stands.

Orientation of Key Buildings

Nature, Site, Establishment

History of Antrim arms building 1. Establishment of the A ‘ ntrim Arms’ Hotel [approx 1800]. The front facade addresses Castle Street, the main commercial thoroughfare in Ballycastle. The hotel housed several prominent figures including Guglielmo Marconi in 1898 who introduced wireless communication to the World.

2. As Ballycastle grew into an industrial town the Antrim Arms Hotel expanded away from Castle Street onto Fairhill Street into the nearby countryside. This expansion allowed the Antrim Arms Hotel to increase it’s capacity.

3. Hugh Boyd a prominent land owner and entrepreneur established a tannery in 1846 which addressed Fairhill Street, the proximity of the small industry to the train station allowed quick transportation of leather to other nearby towns and cities.

4. The success of the original tannery lead to an expansion, this coupled with the expansion of the railway network in the North East allowed for rapid transportation of the tannery products to larger towns like Belfast and Ballymena.

5. The migration of industries to larger towns such as Belfast lead to a decline in Ballycastle’s industries, population and subsequently the town’s buildings.

1

2

3

1: Site 2: Church 3: Railway Line

Landscape

Site

Urbanity

Characteristics of context The Antrim Arms Hotel was erected on the South Corner of Ballycastle’s ‘Diamond’, the economic centre of the town. The front facade [West Facing] site on Castle Street,this was the main entrance for guests and vistors. The North gable facade [North Facing] looks out over the Diamond but has no interaction with the square. The gable wall encloses the square an shuts it off from the Glens of Antrim situated beyond.

The North East end of the Diamond sits the oldest Church in Ballycaslte, this was erected by Hugh Boyd in a neo classic style. The church is still in use today.

To the South of the Diamond runs the Tow River, this fresh water river provided the town with fresh water for centuries, however since the industrial revolution the river has been redirected and contrained by the town.

Above: Long Section, Landscape, Site, Ballycastle Next Page: Double Exposure of Urbanity and Landscape

five spaces

PUBLIC INTROSPECTIVE THRESHOLD EXTROVERTED CIRCULATORY

Public- done, perceived, or existing in open view

Threshold- condition to occur or be manifested

Introspective- characterized by or given to introspection.

Extroverted- primarily concerned with the physical and social environment

appendix 1

Drawings

Isometric: Intervention and Antrim Arms

Concept Shadow Study

Intervention Elevation