As the 100-year anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic quickly approaches, various memorials and tributes have been planned. One notable project that has been in the works since 2009, and just opened to the public, is the Titanic Belfast. The monumental site is considered the iconic centerpiece of a bigger regeneration project and is a collaborative effort by Todd Architects and CivicArts/Eric R Kuhne & Associates. It was purposefully constructed in the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built and took three years to construct–the same number of years as the ship, from 1909-1911.
The 14,000 square meter building’s faade is covered in 3,000 individual silver anodized aluminum shards. The six floors, divided into four 90-foot high ship hulls, present visitors with access to nine interactive galleries that are all filled with the story of the Titanic. According to the website, guests can get a feel for what the ship was like through experiences that include, “a dark ride, an underwater exploration theatre, recreations of the ship’s decks and cabins, and a luxurious conference and banqueting suite with capacity for up to 1,000 people.”
Eric Kuhne of CivicArts commented, “Titanic Belfast restores RMS Titanic to these shores. Its design anchors the profound spirit of invention & innovation from a century ago in a new form that retells the epic story of the building of these great ships. The scale, location, interiors and stories within the galleries make this the largest and most authentic Titanic visitor attraction in the world. The architecture speaks of the genius of Belfast as one of the world’s great historic shipbuilding cities, capturing the essence of over 28,000 workers in the Harland & Wolff’s shipyards.”
Titanic Belfast website
CivicArts website
Todd Architects website
via [Dezeen]