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Posted May 3, 2007, 3:52 PM
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"The World is my Oyster"
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Chicago
Posts: 943
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New Tallest for Northern Ireland
I'm not sure if this has been posted before but here is a project planned for Belfast called the Aurora.
Click on the link to look at the larger image:
http://www.newcityskyline.com/Aurora...rnIreland.html
Aurora boasts to be tallest in Belfast
Thursday, April 26, 2007
By Kelly Matlock
Belfast, Northern Ireland (NCS) - Aurora, the 109 metre tall building proposed for Belfast, would surpass the current tallest building in Northern Ireland, the Obel Building currently under construction nearby at Donegall Quay, by 28 metres. If approved by late 2007, construction could begin in January 2008 with an opening ceremony to be held in 2010.
Adopting its name from the meteorological term Aurora Borealis, which refers to the reddish glow on the northern horizon known as the “northern lights” and also the mythological name in Roman times that was given to the Goddess of dawn, the new Aurora will shine its “northern lights” across Belfast and will represent the dawn of a new era for residential development and living in the city centre.
Aurora is developed by McAlister Holdings, a 12-year old company with a growing portfolio of successful projects, and designed by internationally acclaimed HKR Architects, also responsible for designing the £340 million, 24-storey tower overlooking Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens and involved in the regeneration of Dublin's Smithfield Market.
The 37-floor Aurora will be located on Great Victoria Street near the Europa Hotel and The Crown Liquor Saloon, on the corner of Ventry. The tower will house 291 luxury apartments, a gym for residents and 7,000 square feet of prime commercial space including an exclusive restaurant.
“The Aurora is making a massive contribution towards the ongoing regeneration of Belfast projecting the city back onto the world stage where it belongs,” said Phil Doyle, director of HKR who is responsible for the project. “The materials selected marry the beauty of the glass used in the tower with the solid nature of the masonry harnessed in its low-rise element, both working seamlessly to link the importance of the city’s industrial heritage with its renaissance.”
Amenities for the £90 million building will also include 24-hour concierge and valet parking. Sales of the studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses will be handled by the Eric Cairns Partnership.
“We are very proud to be involved with Aurora,” said local Estate Agent and Senior Partner with Eric Cairns Partnership, Simon Brien. “It is one of the most exciting and inspirational developments we have seen in Northern Ireland. The market for high quality residential accommodation in the City Centre is very strong and Aurora will certainly attract huge levels of interest.”
Although Aurora will beat the Obel in height, it will still be 21 metres shorter than the planned U2 tower in Dublin, designed for the world renowned Irish rock band. The 130 metre U2 will be located at Sir John Rogerson's Quay at Ringsend on the south side of Dublin, with a twisting 30 storey design and 182 luxury apartments plus a recording studio on the top floor.
Still, Aurora is big news for the northern area it is planned for. Not only is it renewing the city centre, but it should create 300 jobs within the two years of its construction, and it is architecturally praised for it energy efficient design features and an addition to the roof that will create a unique lighting effect intended to simulate colors and the northern lights of the building at night.
“Aurora will set a new benchmark for residential and commercial development in the City Centre,” said Mervyn McAlister, managing director of McAlister Holdings. “It will be recognised as the most exciting and innovative scheme of its type ever built in Northern Ireland. Its construction, when seen alongside schemes such as Victoria Square, Bedford Square and the Obel Building, reflects the growing confidence of Belfast moving forward into the future.”
McAlister is not the only one who believes that Aurora will become an iconic landmark for Belfast, helping to further stimulate the ongoing social and economic regeneration of its city centre. Senior planning consultant with Strategic Planning, Bill Morrison, added: “City centres are where you expect to see tall buildings. As in other UK cities, proposals like this should be seen as setting the tone for 21st century development in Belfast city centre.”
In the last ten years, Belfast has witnessed unprecedented levels of residential and commercial development, making it progressively more modern and up to par architecturally and developmentally with other cosmopolitan cities in Europe. Projects including Victoria Square, Titanic Quarter, the Obel Tower and Bedford Square have helped accelerate change and encouraged people to live, work and socialize in Belfast city centre.
In the UK and Ireland, many other cities have implemented substantial and coordinated development strategies aimed at regenerating their city centres. Planners and politicians have become increasingly aware of benefits of creating high quality residential living space within city centres. In 1995, the eight largest regional cities in England formed “Core Cities,” an organization to foster ideas for urban renewal and rebirth of city centres. The central aim of the group is to make sure that cities throughout England compare favorably with other European centres, ensuring that they are at the forefront of social and economic development.
As a consequence of the initiative, Manchester has witnessed a major rise in its city centre’s population, from less than 1,000 in the late 1980’s to over 20,000 today. Studies commissioned by the Manchester City Council illustrate that the growth in numbers of people living in the city centre has also acted as an economic catalyst for the area, setting new standards for urban renewal and smart growth. Cities including Leeds, Birmingham and Glasgow have also followed the trend and built more tall and skinny buildings to accommodate rising populations while also providing sustainable, environmentally-friendly building designs.
For Belfast, the tall and skinny Aurora will be just what the residents ordered for the city’s developing urban fabric. The modern icon will rise alongside other new developments that celebrate the future of the city centre, still complementing the beautiful historic architecture that remains in Belfast and continues to represent a large part of the island’s complex culture and history.
Copyright © 2006 - 2007 NewcitySkyline, Inc.
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