‘It is a bit odd looking’

The Titanic centre in Belfast.

The Titanic centre in Belfast.

Published Jul 25, 2012

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Is Titanic Belfast one of the ugliest new buildings in the UK - or an exciting new addition to the Belfast skyline? Gerard Walton gauged the architectural opinion of visitors at the popular tourist attraction...

Aaron Christopher (23) is from Malaysia. The naval architecture graduate from Strathclyde University in Glasgow felt the short-listing was unfair to Titanic Belfast.

“I don't think it's one of the worst,” he said.

“I'm quite surprised to hear that (about the nomination). It's quite interesting, actually, because it has the bow of the ship which represents the Titanic,” he said.

“For me, as a naval architect, trying to make a building look like a ship is interesting. The last time I was here this wasn't built. I just saw sketches.”

Estelle Lorraine (30), an art and design teacher, is also from Malaysia and loved the design.

“It's really good,” she said.

“I think it's unique and very modern. It captures the ship and its structure.”

David Kahn (41) is a software company owner from the US who is currently living in Spain.

He took his son Carter (8) to Titanic Belfast and said they were both very impressed.

“We walked here from several blocks away and I was very impressed,” David said.

“I took a photo of it on my phone because I thought it was extremely unique. Not at all offensive or distasteful to me.

“I find that it has been nominated for this award distasteful.”

Carter said that he too was a fan.

“I like it. It's unique, “ he said.

Rodger Mareschal (69), a retired consultant from Quebec, Canada, is also a fan of Titanic Belfast's striking shape.

“It's a fantastic design on the inside and outside,” he said.

“It's very good. It's original and visible. It will stay clean because of the materials and the shapes.

“I think it's a very nice building.”

Joe McNamara (56), an interior designer from Dublin, said he felt it was fitting for what it represents.

“It's a completely different thing,” he said.

“That's all you can say really. It probably suits the fall of the Titanic.”

Kathy McClure (54), a school teacher from Toronto, Canada, was divided in her opinion.

“It's different,” she told the Belfast Telegraph.

“When I first saw it, I wondered whether it was trying to be the boat or the bow of the boat.

“We weren't sure what it was supposed to be. It's a unique design but I didn't really see how it was related to the Titanic.”

Among the few we spoke to who weren't particularly impressed by the building was Jackie Stally, a 47-year-old nurse from Kent.

“It is a bit odd looking,” she said.

“I suppose it's supposed to look like a ship isn't it?”

And Tracey Smith, a 43-year-old nurse who also hails from Kent, was even more emphatic in her disapproval of the landmark building.

“I think it looks awful,” she said.

“When I look at it, it doesn't mean anything. When you look at the map of it and you look at the floor design it looks like the 2012 Olympics. - Belfast Telegraph

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