Titanic Belfast opened in 2012 as a museum, visitor attraction and monument to Belfast’s maritime heritage. It is built on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city’s Titanic Quarter where the RMS Titanic was constructed.
The museum contains more than 12,000 square metres of floor space, most of which is occupied by a series of galleries, private function rooms and community facilities.
Titanic Belfast was expected to attract 425,000 visitors annually, however in the first year 807,340 people visited. In 2017/18 with 841,563 came, 84% of its visitors coming from outside Northern Ireland. In 2019, it was the second-most visited tourist attraction in Northern Ireland with over 800,000 visitors. The Titanic visitor centre has received fifteen awards since its opening in 2012.
Eric Kuhne and Associates were commissioned as concept architects. The building’s design is intended to reflect Belfast’s long history of ship making.
Its angular form recalls the shape of ships’ prows and is built to the height of the Titanic hull (38m) during its construction.
Locals have called the building the “The Iceberg” as it looks an iceberg in the sun.
Most of the building’s façade is clad in 3,000 individual silver anodised aluminium shards.
Do you want to learn more about the history of Belfast? See this site on my Titanic Quarter & Maritime Belfast tour!
