No.2 Royal Avenue
I was wandering about Belfast City Centre, with the Fujifilm X-T50, and quite honestly, I was tired! It had been a busy week, and the old heart arrhythmia was playing up. I needed somewhere to sit down for a few minutes. It was then I came across No.2 Royal Avenue and being a public building, owned by Belfast City Council, I wandered in to see what was inside. It’s an open space inside, with lots of seating and a cafe, and a library and a piano, which someone was playing, – very nicely too. I took a seat, wondering how long it would be until someone came and asked me why I was there… But it didn’t happen.
The building, described by the City Council as an ‘Indoor Park,’ is for everyone to enjoy, and all are welcome. I sat inside the building for around 20 minutes, just to get my breath back, and rest my legs, and it was while I sat there that I noticed this truly magnificent dome, and as you’d expect, it was just asking to be photographed. (I did ask one of the staff members for permission – and they were most obliging, – there’s no problem with photos inside the building, so long as no-one else objects).
The dome is such a beautiful structure, – a circular shape over an octagonal arcade, supported by corbelled columns that lead up to a Gothic gallery. The building itself was initially designed between 1864 and 1869 for the now defunct Provincial Bank of Ireland, by WJ Barre, of Belfast, who also designed the Ulster Hall, and completed by architects Turner and Williamson of Belfast after Barre’s premature death in 1867.
My original intention was to shoot directly up into the dome, from underneath, but the X-T50 was fitted with a 18-55 mm lens, which wasn’t wide enough to include the whole dome – a reminder to travel with a bigger choice of lenses! So I stepped over to the side and made this image looking up, obliquely into the dome. Cameras settings:
F=24mm, f/8 @ 1/125th sec on ISO800. No flash.
Belfast City Council describe the venue as…
“A community and cultural hub at 2 Royal Avenue (that) provides a free creative space in the heart of the city centre. It’s a warm indoor public park where you can take some time out, socialise with friends, hold a business meeting or come in and work for the day. Feel free to enjoy your packed lunch on the comfortable seating inside or buy a tasty snack at the kiosk.”
It features:-
- “The ‘Cosy’ – a fun playful space for children to explore
- a Belfast-themed library with books for all ages
- a sensory dome
- a Belfast notice board
- a variety of comfortable seating
- free Wi-Fi
- baby-changing areas
- study areas
- meeting tables
- pods
- a grand piano
- Our 2 Royal Avenue building is also dog-friendly.”
The venue is managed by MayWe who take bookings for various events and exhibitions, including senior citizens’ dance classes, chess afternoons, play groups Irish language groups, and much much more. Get event updates at:-
Portraits2Go.co.uk 