NEWS
AT KRITERION
REDEVELOPMENT
OF ARMAGH GAOL
Kriterion Conservation
Architects have been appointed by The
Osborne Group as conservation architects
and designers to redevelop Armagh Gaol.
This commission involves the restoration
and regeneration of the complete gaol
site to include conversion of the significant
listed buildings to provide a destination
hotel and associated tourism development
accommodation, providing a new sustainable
use for the vacant buildings whilst also
preserving the Gaol’s architectural
integrity and historic importance. The
conservation works will include retention
of details of heritage merit and careful
detailing of alterations and insertions.
Armagh Gaol, a Grade B+ listed building
located within the Armagh Conservation
Area, is one of Northern Ireland’s
most important historic buildings The
Osborne Group and the Prince’s
Regeneration Trust were selected by Armagh
District Council earlier this year to
start developing proposals for its regeneration.
The Osborne Group has previously transformed
Oxford Gaol into the critically acclaimed
and award winning Malmaison hotel.
The site is a flagship project of great
importance to the City's continued growth
over the next decade and will give the
Gaol a new lease of life whilst greatly
benefiting the local community and enhancing
the tourism industry in Armagh and N.Ireland
as a whole.
WINNER
OF THE KRITERION CONSERVATION ARCHITECTS’ RUA
PRESIDENT'S PRIZE
Christina Bunello was awarded
the Kriterion Conservation Architects’ RUA President’s
Prize of £500, for the best work
by a fulltime student, at the official
opening of the 128th Annual Exhibition
on 1 October in The Northern Bank, Donegall
Street, Belfast.
Christina’s oil on linen painting
will be on display at the exhibition
during October. This is the third year
Kriterion Conservation Architects have
sponsored the Royal Ulster Academy of
Arts.
Kriterion Conservation
Architects RUA Presidents Prize
For the third year running,
Kriterion Conservation Architects’ are
supporting the Royal Ulster Academy of
Arts by sponsoring the ‘Kriterion
Conservation Architects RUA Presidents
Prize’.
The prize, valued at £500,
will be awarded to the full time RUA
student who presents the best work
in the year. The winning student will
be
announced at the official opening of
the 128th RUA Annual Exhibition in
the Northern Bank on 1 October 2009.
The
RUA will host a varied and dynamic
show reflecting the best in contemporary
and
traditional visual arts practice in 2009.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
TREASURES DISCOVERED AT ANTRIM COURTHOUSE
Kriterion Conservation Architects are
currently working on the refurbishment
of The Old Antrim Courthouse, a Grade
A listed building, where an archaeological
investigation recently uncovered historical
treasures.
An Irish copper halfpenny coin was uncovered
below the ground floor. The coin, although
badly corroded, is from the William and
Mary period dating back to circa 1962-4.
It has the heads of both William and
Mary on the front and the reverse has
the Irish harp under a Crown.
The Cannonball, likely to be 17th Century,
is made of iron with roughly one quarter
missing which suggests that it was used
and damaged after firing. It is 9cm in
diameter and would have roughly weighed
6lbs when complete.
The Old Courthouse was built in 1726
by the Grand Jury and is the oldest remaining
courthouse in Northern Ireland. It was
in use as a courthouse until 1994 but
has been disused since then. It is currently
being repaired and refurbished to house
a multi-purpose performance space within
the former court room and a gallery,
cafe and information centre on the ground
floor in what was originally an open
arcaded market place.
Apprentice
Boys Memorial Hall:
Kriterion Conservation Architects have
just completed design proposals to
extend the Memorial Hall to provide
an innovative visitor and educational
facility.
Antrim
Castle Gardens & Antrim
Courthouse:
In Antrim we are currently working
on two flagship schemes in the heart
of the town – the restoration
of Antrim Castle Gardens, and the restoration
of the former Grade-A listed Courthouse.
At the Castle Gardens, Clotworthy,
the former stable block to the castle
is being converted to house a unique
visitor centre based on the history
of landscape gardening in Ireland.
There is also to be a shop and café with
the added attraction of an art gallery
within the Gardens.
The Courthouse, which has been standing
empty for a number of years and requires
extensive repairs, is to be renovated
and converted into a performance space
and information office.
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