A NEW online tour, which will celebrate the wealth of Belfast’s 1930s and Art Deco architecture, is to go live tomorrow.
The new Glamour and Gloom tour will highlight selected Art Deco gems, both well-known landmarks and lesser-known buildings.
It will also include some of those which have since been demolished and those which are derelict and/or earmarked for demolition.
From the carved elephants on the city centre former Burton’s Building on Ann Street, to the Strand Cinema on Holywood Road, which recently celebrated its 85th Birthday, and the hugely innovative Botanic Primary School, there is a wealth of fantastic buildings waiting to be discovered.
Also included is Floral Hall, the Bank of Ireland building and the School of Music, which remain derelict, in poor repair and on the Heritage At Risk Register.
It is hoped that the tour will reinvigorate interest in Belfast’s 1930's architecture, and inspire better understanding of this architectural era in the city.
Nikki McVeigh, Chief Executive of Ulster Architectural Heritage, said it was "excited to be supported by Belfast City Council to deliver the new Glamour and Gloom tour".
"The 1930s saw a wave of architectural and social innovations, and it is fantastic to have the opportunity to promote the quality and variety of 1930s architecture which still exists in Belfast," she said.
"We hope that the general public will enjoy the tour, but also reawaken an interest in these buildings so that they may be preserved for future generations."
The online tour is available from tomorrow at www.ulsterarchitecturalheritage.org.uk
