Flickering Waterfront
Belfast’s Waterfront Hall was designed by local architects Robinson McIlwaine and opened in 1997. It cost £32 million and it took five years from the design & planning stage to the completion of the building. The building is glass fronted, circular and at night appears to float on the River Lagan. Facilities include a main auditorium, BT Studio, 16 meeting rooms, two bar areas and a restaurant.
On the opening night, 17 January 1997 a special concert featured the Ulster Orchestra, pianist Barry Douglas and flautist James Galway.
On Saturday I joined these ruffians handsome gents who are all members of the Belfast Flickr Group for a private tour of the building. Once again our special thanks must go to Andy for organising the day and to Adam for his patience as camera lenses were poked in every nook and cranny from the rafters to the basement. It was the same wonderful Adam who only two months previously had herded an even larger group round The Ulster Hall
I have visited The Waterfront (as we call it locally) on many occasions and usually the concourses are filled with the sound of chatter, laughter and expectation, while in the main auditorium the audience settles into a hushed silence of anticipation before a show begins.
Yesterday it looked like we almost had the place to ourselves.
While floors below in the bowels of the basement:-
Miles of cables provide power and stores sit waiting for use….
We moved through offices, passed sound and lighting boards
to the area way above the world of Theatre.
I felt a litte like the famous Phantom. We looked down at the auditorium as it was prepared for the evening show.
The auditorium
An finally looking out from the inside.
And on the otherside
My photos may not be as perfect as those of the Big Boys, but they tell a story and give the flavour of the day and place. I hope you enjoyed the tour.
Nancy said,
May 10, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Grannymar,
Weren’t you lucky to have a tour of that beautiful building? I love to see all the inner workings of a huge place like that. Enjoy it now because for some reason we don’t keep things around for centuries as we used to do.
Only 30 years ago, my husband and I took a guided tour through the new Kingdome in Seattle. It was a cutting edge sports stadium and we were really impressed.
A year or two ago we watched them “Blow it up” in order to build a new stadium. That is unbelievable to me.
So, I sincerely hope that your beautiful Waterfront Hall will be there for your enjoyment for many years to come….
Oh, and Happy Mothers Day to you from America…..
wisewebwoman said,
May 10, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Lovely shots, GM, I love the unusual structural ones, and also do you have one of the outside?
XO
WWW
Grannymar said,
May 10, 2009 at 4:45 pm
@Nancy - I enjoyed my visit, but actually prefer older buildings where you want the walls to tell their story.
I hope you and are enjoying Mother’s day, we had ours in March.
@WWW - I didn’t take a picture of the building from the outside as part of the area is still being developed and it was raining when I arrived. If you click on the link at the top of the post you will see a picture.
I did keep a couple of pictures back as they will provide inspiration for other posts.
Nancy said,
May 10, 2009 at 4:53 pm
I agree with you,Gm. I love the old building too.
I’m just waiting for some Dunderhead to come around suggesting we demolish Independence hall in order to put up a Wal Mart….
steph said,
May 10, 2009 at 5:25 pm
@ Nancy
…but, but you can’t buy bargain knickers at Independence Hall
Grannymar
Glad to hear you had a nice day yesterday.
How many toyboys is that I see?
Grannymar said,
May 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Steph, not all of them! I have to keep some of the in the background for myself!
Nick said,
May 10, 2009 at 5:52 pm
It’s a fabulous building. Jenny and I and a friend were there a couple of weeks ago to hear the journalist Niall Stanage talk about his experience of the Obama presidential campaign and assess his first 100 days in office. It was a fascinating talk, with some revealing videos from the campaign.
Nancy said,
May 10, 2009 at 6:17 pm
You’re quite right, Steph, and you can’t buy freedom at Wal Mart…..
And Wal Mart never has what I need anyway. Who ever heard of a knicker department that didn’t carry thong panty liners?
Magpie11 said,
May 10, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Splutter! Some of you never cease to amaze me…..how you manage to go from a great series of pics to thongs I cannot fathom!
As has been said before GM, it ain’t the camera wot makes the picture it’s the eye of the person behind it… interesting photos.
Annb said,
May 10, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Great to see the inside - I’ve only ever seen it from the outside. I had the good fortune to spend a night in the Hilton Hotel, opposite,( a junket, I hasten to add) New Year’s Eve 1997 I think it was. Such a great night, big outdoor gig and lots of really good laughs, ah that takes me back.
- I keep promising myself a ticket to a mega concert there…..one day.
Darlene said,
May 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Thanks for the pictorial tour, Grannymar. If I could come to Ireland, I would rather visit your castles and old buildings though,. They, like me, have endured and have stories to tell.
Grannymar said,
May 10, 2009 at 8:37 pm
@Nick - Did you know that the design was loosely based on Ships and aircraft to reflect Belfast’s old industries.
@Magpie - With your forthcoming freedom I hope you have a photowalk or three in the planning.
@Annb - I have attended several Classical Concerts there and thoroughly enjoyed them.
@Darlene - We do have some wonderful old castles, some I have yet to explore.
Baino said,
May 10, 2009 at 9:37 pm
It’s so much fun to go behind the scenes of these things. I’m pretty sure that Sydney Opera House has a ‘behind the scenes’ tour but I think it costs quite a bit. I worked at our own Entertainment Centre once which is a similar massive venue, really fun being backstage and in the dressing rooms. Nice walkabout there GM!
Grannymar said,
May 10, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Baino, I had fun.
rummuser said,
May 11, 2009 at 12:53 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour Grannymar. Keep doing more of these.
Alan in Belfast said,
May 11, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Arghhh … missed it.
Grannymar said,
May 11, 2009 at 3:04 pm
@Ramana - I am pleased you enjoyed the tour. When I was young I often thought of being a tour guide.
@Alan - You missed the fun!
Magpie11 said,
May 11, 2009 at 6:55 pm
I’m off to Canterbury tomorrow…taking my brother in law’s wife (it’s complicated..but he’s my sister’s second husband) to see the city!
Cameras will be there.
Grannymar said,
May 11, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Magpie, Enjoy the day and bring back some photos.