The Assembly Rooms, a historic landmark in Belfast, has been placed on the World Monuments Fund's 2025 'watch list' due to the 'major challenges' it faces, including climate change, tourism pressures, conflict, and natural disasters. Campaigners celebrate this recognition as a 'game changer' and hope it will secure funding and support for the building's restoration and future use as a multi-cultural arena, a center for exploring Belfast's enlightenment heritage, and a home for the planned Museum of the Troubles and Peace.
A historic Belfast landmark, the Assembly Rooms , has been placed on the World Monuments Fund (WMF)'s 2025 'watch list', a move campaigners are calling a 'game changer.' The Assembly Rooms , situated at the intersection of North Street and Waring Street, were chosen for the list because of the 'major challenges' it faces, such as climate change, tourism pressures, conflict, and natural disasters.
Owned by Castlebrooke Investments, the company behind the delayed Tribeca development in Belfast city center, the building has a rich history. Originally constructed as a single-story market house in 1769, with an additional floor added in 1776, it stood at the heart of the 18th-century town and became crucial to Belfast's cultural life during the enlightenment era. The building was later converted for banking purposes in the 19th century, but its neo-classical style was retained and it was listed in 1975 after being recognized as Belfast's Best Kept Public Building in 1979. Throughout the years, it has hosted concerts, exhibitions, and theatre performances.The Ulster Architecture Heritage organization has voiced concerns that the building's general maintenance has been neglected and has suffered from vandalism. However, the WMF's support has ignited hope among campaigners who have long advocated for the Assembly Rooms' preservation. John Gray from the Assembly Rooms Alliance expressed his enthusiasm, stating: 'Amongst 25 projects worldwide which they are backing this is the only one in Ireland. They have clearly been convinced by the importance of the building but also by our ambitions for its future use as a multi-cultural arena, a place to explore our enlightenment heritage, and as a home for the planned Museum of the Troubles and Peace. This is an international imprimatur for what is proposed.'The WMF's commitment will provide two years of mentoring and professional support to help the project become a reality. This recognition is expected to encourage further investment and support for the Assembly Rooms' restoration. The Assembly Rooms Alliance spearheads the campaign to save the building for public and cultural purposes, with hopes that it could eventually be acquired by Belfast City Council. John envisions the banking hall returning to its original role as a multi-cultural venue, hosting concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and theatre performances. The remaining space is envisioned as the Museum of the Troubles and Peace, offering visitors a tangible exploration of Northern Ireland's complex past and its journey towards peace. 'We are confident that there will be significant demand for the use of the banking hall for an extensive range of events. We are equally sure that there is a demand by our own citizens and from visitors from afar for an accessible way to explore the history of our troubles and how we managed to emerge from them,' John added. He believes that these proposals will significantly enhance Belfast's city center as a tourist attraction. 'We believe that our proposals will provide a significant additional visitor attraction in Belfast city centre. The renovation and revival of the Assembly Rooms which lie at the entry point to the Cathedral Quarter and the Tribeca portfolio will also lead to increased footfall in the area and increase the potential of properties in the neighbourhood,' John concluded. 'Let us have the ambition in the two years in which we will have the benefit of mentoring by the World Monuments Fund to secure the building and have plans in place for its restoration and development.'
Heritage Culture Politics ASSEMBLY ROOMS BELFAST WORLD MONUMENTS FUND CONSERVATION MUSEUM TROUBLES PEACE HERITAGE CULTURE ARCHITECTURE
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