Architecture Night 2022 brings Riddel’s Warehouse to life

Posted 2 years ago

Northern Ireland’s night for celebrating Architecture lights up decommissioned ironmongery in Belfast City Centre.

Architecture Night 2022 saw more than 250 guests come together to a celebrate making Northern Ireland a better place to live through great architecture. It’s an event which is all about connecting people and RSUA was delighted to welcome architects from all different stage of their careers, students, special guests, members of the public and those whose work includes the built environment all in one place, to share their experience and have a great evening.

This event makes use of an architecturally unique setting each and every year. And this year was no different. Guests joined us at Riddel’s Warehouse in Belfast City Centre.

Riddel’s Warehouse is one of the most remarkable survivals from industrial 19th century Belfast! It is a four-storey ironmongery warehouse built for John Riddel & Co in 1867 to the designs of Thomas Jackson. Behind its lively, polychromatic façade is a unique atrium with five stories of galleries supported by cast iron columns and heavy timber beams arranged round three sides of a glass-roofed courtyard. Riddel’s operated from Ann Street till 1973 when a series of firebomb attacks forced them to move elsewhere. The building lay empty for several years until the Police Service acquired it as a security measure.

The wonderful team at Hearth Historic Buildings Trust has been able to acquire the building thanks to a loan from Ulster Garden Villages, and has carried out holding repairs to prevent further deterioration.

RSUA was delighted to be a part of reimagining what this incredible venue could look like by welcoming in over 250 guests through its doors. The night was hosted by Mark Simpson and featured live entertainment from The Common Ground, Leah McFall & Nathan Jess and The Jazzmesiters plus with delicious food from The Yellow Door what more could you want!