Belfast
United Kingdom
Belfast is the capital city of Northern Ireland. Shouldered by hills and both challenged and sustained by waterways, Belfast has been characterised by forces of endurance and determination since ancient times.
Archaeologists have documented at least 9,000 years of human settlement in the mountains and high ground around modern-day Belfast. The importance of geography – both its tests and opportunities – has been evident through the long and compelling story of the city’s development.
Fast forward to 21st century Belfast and the landscape has become a cityscape, moulded by a new ebb and flow, by the tides of people living in, sharing and coming to visit the remarkable place that we call home.
ECOC
In 2017, Belfast took the decision to enter a bidding process for the designation of European Capital of Culture.
In October of the same year, the European Commission decided to halt the process, ending the competitive nature of the bid. Rather than being the end of a journey, the civic momentum gained through 16,000 one-to-one conversations threw open a challenge – the challenge to recognise the transformative power that culture, art and creativity have to spark a new relationship with ourselves as individuals, communities and as a city. These ideas were developed into Belfast’s cultural strategy, A City Imagining.
The Organization
urbanscaleinterventions.comWhilst A City Imagining is led by Belfast city council, Urban Scale Interventions (USI) have led on engagement and consultation of the strategy, and are partners in the delivery of 2023 – Year of Culture. USI represents Belfast for Culture Next, on behalf of Belfast City Council.
USI’s studio ethos is rooted in promoting the transformative power of culture to regenerate cities. Through creative engagement, impactful design and quality delivery, we help cities, governments and organisations to improve the lives of the people they serve.
From reframing highstreets, to new models of education, playful interventions, regenerative tourism or improved community wellbeing, we cut through the red tape, take risk, see the bigger picture and challenge the status quo.
Who represents the city
Today the studio is represented by a multidisciplinary team of designers working across a broad range of themes and challenges.
The studio promotes culture as a transformative tool in city regeneration, working closely with local councils and government to achieve this. Ralf’s interests lie in architecture and placemaking that capitalises on local community assets and co-design.
She is passionate about participatory design and interdisciplinary thinking. This has led to her working across fields including architecture, graphic design, festival programming and Film.
Laura joined USI in 2019 and her work focuses on city regeneration through a cultural lens.
She is currently working with Belfast City Council on the 2023 year of culture.
Contact
Portview Trade Centre, 310 Newtownards Rd, Belfast BT4 1HE
07962036251
