West Belfast alleyway to be given new life in community project

An alleway in West Belfast is set to be given new life in a new community project.

The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) has announced a new multi-use shelter will be built in Iris Alley off the Springfield Road.

Known as ‘The Shed: Gather and Grow’, this design was the winning submission by architects Jennifer Speirs, Adrienne Campbell and William Brady to ‘Under the Shelter of Each Other/Ar Scáth a Chéile’, a design competition run by RSUA in collaboration with 9ft in Common and JP Corry, as part of a Belfast 2024 Commission.

The competition challenged designers, makers and anyone with a good idea, to submit proposals for a wall-mounted collapsible shelter in a residential alleyway in Belfast with a budget of £500 for materials. The proposals were to be site-specific, but the concepts transferrable to other alleys and walls across the city and beyond.

After careful consideration, the judges chose The Shed for its creativity and thoughtful incorporation of Iris Street residents’ needs. The ‘Shed’s’ design will allow for customisable modules, enabling it to act as a hub for gardening enthusiasts, a space for local artists to display their work, a community noticeboard and a gathering spot for neighbours to come together.

Ciarán Fox, Director of RSUA commented: "These design competitions generate such creative responses. It was a joy for the judging panel to assess.

"I want to thank all the individuals and teams that put forward a proposal and for their generosity in making their plans available for public use. Whilst we only currently have funding to build the winning design, we’re hopeful that people will borrow some of the other designs and build beautiful shelters in alleys across Northern Ireland.”

One of the competition’s partners, 9ft in Common, is a large-scale project that explores the potential of Belfast’s alleyways. Amberlea Neely from 9ft in Common commented: “Alleyways are an important part of Belfast’s cultural fabric, so it’s wonderful to see projects like this one reimagining these spaces as a focal point for local engagement.

"The Shed demonstrates the possibilities for what lies just beyond our back gates, and we look forward to seeing the transformation of this underutilised alleyway into a green and vibrant space where community can flourish."

The winning team was awarded a £1,500 prize at RSUA’s annual Architecture Night, held recently in the Ewart Building in Belfast. All 11 entries were displayed in a make-shift indoor alleyway, built by a team of volunteers from JP Corry and RSUA to be 9-foot-wide, the same width as a traditional Belfast alleyway. The entries will soon be displayed outdoors in an actual alleyway.

Also announced at Architecture Night was the entry that came in second place, winning a £500 prize. Submitted by designer Ian Pitt, ‘Stick around and laugh a while’ was highly commended by the judges for its simple design that could be easily rolled out in spaces across the city.