This new health facility also functions as a Community Centre and the design team worked with local people to create a building that they can call their own. Our role was to design a public space between two buildings - one new and one refurbished.
The area is treated as an extension of the sequential flow of spaces from the front door, through the café and social areas and out of doors. It is part café, part circulation and part play.
This is a difficult political environment and the courtyard space is protected by high wire security fences. It is also enclosed by a series of walls which are designed to break up and disguise the sense of 'being in a cage'.
The design of the walls also reflects the drama of the Belfast skyline and the whole scheme frames vistas to the surrounding black scarps and cliffs. Sheils Flynn worked closely with architects Donnelly O'Neill throughout the design process.
