CMS Architectural Technician Grace recently attended a CIAT Aspiration Group educational trip to Belfast along with 21 other Architectural Technologists.
Organised and hosted by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), the weekend was inspiring and insightful, offering attendees the opportunity to explore, learn and make valuable new connections.
The CIAT Aspiration Group was created for students, newly qualified graduates and those at the beginning of their career as Architectural Technicians and Technologists.
We caught up with Grace to find out more.
CIAT Aspiration Group welcomes us to Belfast
To begin the trip, we met at Belfast’s 10m-long Big Fish sculpture, which is a fascinating piece of history itself. Did you know that each tile is an individual piece of pottery linking to Belfast’s history?
We first walked to the Titanic Quarter, a regenerated area of the city on what was the Harland & Wolff docklands and is still home to a preserved shipyard.
Whilst there, we visited TODD Architects Ltd, the architects behind the Titanic Belfast and the recently completed Queen’s Business School.
Two of the Directors gave a talk on their roles and processes as a larger architectural practice. With CMS being a smaller organisation, it was interesting to hear from a bigger firm and gain a different perspective.
The building they are based in is the former Harland & Wolff headquarters and where the Titanic itself was designed, which made the visit even more fascinating!
Learning from energystore
We later arrived at Queen’s University Belfast campus accommodation, where we would be staying.
A CPD presentation was delivered at Lanyon Hall by energystore about their superbead and TLA products, which was really interesting. One in eight houses in Northern Ireland is now constructed using their insulation products.
Their products have been used in various high-profile projects, including the refurbishment of Battersea Power Station and ongoing works at the Ritz Hotel.
That evening we attended a sponsored social event which was a good opportunity to get to know each other, network with energystore and speak to the President of CIAT, Eddie Weir PCIAT, whose region is Northern Ireland.
Exploring the historic city of Belfast
Saturday was a day of exploration, starting with a guided architectural walking tour with Larry Murphy from Belfast Walking Tours.
The tour began at the Europa Hotel, located on Belfast’s Golden Mile, famously the most bombed hotel in the world due to it being a primary target in the bombings during the Troubles.
Next door to the Europa Hotel stands the Grand Opera House, one of the first buildings in Belfast to receive Listed Building status. Neglected for a long time and suffering significant damage, it has since been fully refurbished and restored to its previous grandeur.
Opposite was The Crown pub, a beautiful tavern of the Victorian era dating back to the 1880s and now owned by the National Trust. Previously known as The Liquor Saloon, this timeless pub still boasts many of its original features, including stained glass windows, intricate wood carvings, decorative ceilings and mosaic flooring. Entering the pub was like stepping back in time with its level of historical detail, a stunning example of heritage architecture.
We then passed by Belfast City Hall, the iconic building in the centre of the city which opened in 1906 following Belfast being awarded it City status in 1888.
Exploring the side streets, we found Bittles Bar, one of the oldest flat iron style buildings in existence, built in 1868. We also passed by the John Lytle & Co building, historically a seed merchants and now the Mal Maison hotel.
We then returned to the Titanic Quarter to see the Titanic Hotel, which is also in the former Harland & Wolff headquarters, the Victorian drawing offices now being used as the main hotel bar and event space.
The Titanic Belfast Museum
The walking tour was followed by a visit to the Titanic Belfast, which was a highlight of the weekend and perhaps one of the best museums I’ve been to. Housing such a wealth of history, it was a really moving experience to be immersed in Titanic’s story in such depth.
I was amazed at how Harland & Wolff produced everything for the Titanic, from the furnishings to the wallpaper, linen and so on. It seemed the only thing they didn’t make was the White Star Line branded crockery and silverware! Everything else was created solely by them.
The museum has an incredible collection of original architectural drawings and a comprehensive re-creation of first-, second- and third-class cabins. It was interesting to see the difference between the spaces and learn about the engineering work behind the Titanic.
It presented an explanation of how the Titanic sunk and a memorial wall to all who survived and lost their lives. It then explained the safety protocols brought into sailing as a result of the sinking, the technology developed in the 1980s, and how they ended up finding the wreck using a sonar system.
Behind Titanic Belfast are the slipways in which the Titanic itself was built and launched. A plan of the Titanic’s promenade deck can be found inlaid in the stone providing a better understanding of the scale of the ship.
That evening was spent at Common Market, a repurposed warehouse with an impressive array of food stalls.
Sunday was a free day to explore Belfast as we chose, so I took the opportunity to return to the City Hall galleries and St George’s Market, one of the last covered Victorian Markets in Ireland.
An unique opportunity for learning and networking
Due to the nature of our jobs, you don’t usually have more than one Architectural Technician on a job, so it can be rare to meet people in the same role as you at different practices. Hence, this trip was a valuable opportunity to meet like-minded people at a similar stage in their career.
Having never been to Ireland before, it also allowed me to travel somewhere new, learn about Belfast’s architectural heritage and experience the incredible Titanic Belfast.
This trip was the first time I have been actively involved with my professional body and I’m grateful to the CIAT Aspiration Group for the opportunity. I’m very glad I went and am keen to become more involved with CIAT in the future.
If you would like to connect or work with us, please get in touch. We would be delighted to hear from you.
