• Large square & rectangular windows on both buildings.

• Use of contrasting colours/ use of colour accents.

• Both buildings were part of a regeneration project.

• Interior walls are both a red dyed poured concrete.

Contrasts-

• The size & scale of each - The MAC is 5,500m² & the Transport Hub is 450m².

• The transport hub has a more unique contemporary shape whereas the Mac is modular.

• The roof is visible from the ground on the transport hub.

• The front of the MAC is redbrick and black granite whereas the transport hub is light grey granite.

The MAC: The MAC has become a popular location for tourists to visit. These visitors have attended more than 3,000 live performances, 45 visual art exhibitions, 100s of workshops, and collectively drunk over 400,000 cups of coffee. It had an economic impact of £14.8 million, therefore making a positive contribution to the urban region.

Colin Connect Transport Hub: The transport centre has been designed to house the new bus service that connects the Colin and Poleglass neighbourhood with the city centre, improving the public transport systems in the city, as well as the general inhabitants social interactions.

“We're particularly proud of the Colin Connect transport hub. Not only is it a striking building with strong architectural merit, it has been built to have a positive and lasting legacy for local residents for generations to come."

We agree with what Leonard said. It has definitely had a positive impact on the area by linking East Belfast with West Belfast.

Internally, in-situ concrete is recurrently exposed as an internal finish for walls and soffits. Brickwork also extends to interior walls for an internal exposed finish.

The practice has experience of working on a wide range of different building types from houses to large and complex public buildings and landscapes, and has delivered projects in the UK and Europe.

Alastair Hall was born in Belfast in 1969. He studied architecture at Queens University. Ian McKnight was born in Lisburn, Co Antrim in 1971. Originally, the practice was established in Belfast by Alastair Hall and Mark Hackett who were joined by Ian McKnight in 2008, however Mark Hackett retired from the firm in 2010.

Builder: FORRME Construction

Function: Transport Hub

Cost: £2.38 million

Location: Poleglass, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Completion: April 2012

Function: Recreational Space

Cost: £17,900,000

Location: Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Two granite squares define the plan - a new public square & the building. They did this due to the lack of immediate context, as it was originally a problematic area located between two neighbourhoods (Belfast's Divisions). The architects wanted this building to have a sense of civil identity and a strong performance which resulted in a modern building for the local community to be proud of.

"It has transformed Belfast. Its a project of such scale and ambition from a contemporary perspective that it hasn't only contributed to the regeneration of the Cathedral Quarter in the city centre but it's also created so many opportunities for artists and audiences"

Anne McReynolds the Chief Executive of the centre.

In our opinion, the MAC was an amazing feat of architecture and engineering. The space on the site for the building was extremely limited and it was located in a historic location. It had to be designed do that it merged with the existing buildings and was accessible for all and Hall McKnight achieved their goal.

Indian black granite was chosen for the façade due to its superior strength and durability.

The building is immediately recognisable with it's prow-like peak rising at the roadside corner of the square plan. It has 2 major windows - two heavy, rust coloured granite framed oriel window elements, one grounded portrait and one suspended landscape. The windows give a suggestion of the space inside as it breaks through the exterior grey granite carapace.