The Challenge
Hall Black Douglas were appointed by STEP (South Tyrone Empowerment Programme) to design a Community Peace Building in Dungannon, Northern Ireland. The new facility provides a shared space on a community interface area for the provision of several key community services. The building is a result of a successful funding application partnership with Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council to SEUPB under the PEACE III Programme for funding.
The Junction houses several anchor tenants including STEP (supporting community development), Inspire (supporting Mental Wellbeing), Willowbank (supporting adults with a physical disability/sensory impairment). It also includes a community meeting place and space for social enterprises including a café and crèche.
The building is located within Railway Park, part of a linear greenway and sits along the edge of the park adjacent to a Tesco superstore and car park. The location was chosen to maximise the views past the building to the parkland beyond, create sheltered spaces and to enhance the pedestrian routes through the park.
The design concept is that of a piece of three-dimensional sculpture set within the park. The aspiration is not to have a front or back, but to relate to the aspects of the site context in which it sits and provide interest and equality of access when approached from all directions. The plan has been ‘kinked’ at the entrance points to respond to the site. The design and location of entrances has been chosen to be visible from all directions of approach and to maximise accessibility.
The roof form has been designed to have a sculptural quality which changes dependent on the view point and reflects the diversity of the various uses and users under one roof. The pitched roof forms are reminiscent of houses or relating to the previous railway use of the site.
Architects, Hall Black Douglas, envisaged a structure that would give the impression of open access from every angle, and as part of this, a key consideration was the choice of brick to achieve this. Sample panels were constructed on site to show a variety of mortar joints and laying patterns