The Maritime Mile
The Maritime Mile is an award winning initiative developed by Maritime Belfast in association with Belfast Harbour, the Odyssey Trust and Titanic Quarter Limited. It aims to connect the waterfront physically, recognising that the sum of its parts is much greater than the individual components. It also connects with people emotionally, engaging local neighbourhoods, residents and visitors through interpretation, storytelling, events and animation.
Local businesses on the Maritime Mile can get involved by contacting us directly to discuss opportunities. This includes listing on www.maritime-mile.com website, in visitor publications and in Maritime Mile campaigns. Businesses are invited to use the Maritime Mile brand. We also have a media library which is a free resource, please contact us for access.
You can read our Development and Animation Strategy below. We’ve also developed a Toolkit for the Maritime Mile that highlights the retained heritage features, the palette of colours across the area, and recommends approaches for public realm, seating and landscaping.
Maritime Mile: Development & Animation Strategy
The Maritime Mile coming to life
We have already begun delivering a number of initiatives along the Maritime Mile to animate it and encourage both locals and visitors to Belfast to engage with the city’s iconic heritage waterfront.
The Maritime Mile Treasure Trail
The Maritime Mile Treasure Trail was launched in the summer of 2020 to encourage people to explore the rich maritime heritage of Belfast. The outdoor family experience takes visitors from one end of the Maritime Mile to the other, with questions, clues, facts and challenges along the way on what they can see and what they have learnt as they explore. There’s even a mini explorers trail. Everyone who completes the experience will get their very own Maritime Mile certificate.
The joint initiative with Belfast Harbour features some of the newest additions to the Maritime Mile: the Belfast Buoys, Glass of Thrones, and Riverbox.
SoundYard
SoundYard is a playful art installation inspired by the sounds of Belfast’s shipyards. It is located on Queen’s Quay close to the Odyssey and Abercorn Marina.
SoundYard was the winning entry of the City Play Design Competition held by the Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA), JP Corry and Maritime Belfast. The aim was to challenge young architects to generate innovative ideas for play on Belfast’s Maritime Mile. This historic area of waterfront stretches one navigational mile and connects attractions, public realm, sculptures & viewing points on both sides of the river.
The Design Team took their inspiration from our industrial past and the immense shipyards that once employed thousands of people. Their striking design and innovative play area celebrate Belfast’s maritime heritage, inspired by the constant noise of striking, hammering and riveting of metal that was once heard in the shipyards.
