大象传媒

Not Such Divine In’spir’ation

• Kim Lenaghan
• 8 Jun 07, 06:35 PM

Last night was so lovely that Ella and I headed off for a long walk along the lough shore at Whiteabbey. It was a perfect early summer evening, bright and balmy. We met my friend Carol and her dog, and as our two contented canines ran in and out of the water, we strolled along gossiping and enjoying that fine view of the Harland & Wolff cranes, looking particularly splendid against a rare, bright blue backdrop. Follow that with a nice, frothy cappuccino, a bit more chat and I am in fine form as I drive homeward in full admiration of the rosy sun setting on the city of my birth. But just as I am in danger of becoming excessively enraptured with the emerging skyline out pops a spike to burst my Belfast bubble.

Yes, I have caught sight of the sun glinting off that stainless steel darning needle sticking out of the top of St Anne’s Cathedral. I know it’s supposed to be ‘the spire of hope’ and I know that the sentiments and concept behind its construction are highly admirable, but architecturally it just doesn’t work for me. Admittedly it does reflect the colours and moods of the changing sky, then so does a window, and ultimately this still looks like an aluminium flag pole, or the aerial of a radio transmitter from a 1950’s black & white sci fi movie. But the question I really want to ask is would something this architecturally inappropriate ever be added to the Duomo in Florence? Would stainless steel sit upon the rooftops of Notre Dame? I don’t think so!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I’m some sort of arch conservative. I’m not pulling a Prince Charles here and suggesting that there hasn’t been a decent building designed since 1840. Actually I happen to be a fan of interesting, modern structures when they add to their environment. I love the 'gherkin’ in London, the Velasca Tower in Milan, the glass pyramid at the Louvre, but this spire has no character. Yes, modern features can significantly enhance a more traditional building, but not in this case. Obviously this is just my opinion and maybe I have no imagination. I’m sure there will be many of you who love it and no doubt even I will get used to it in time. For now though let me stick with that picture in my head….a bunker, possibly somewhere under Donegal Street, with a lone radio operator, headphones on, looking at a screen, asking over and over again “is there anybody out there?”……

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