Known as The Shed: Gather and Grow, the multi-use design by architects Jennifer Speirs, Adrienne Campbell and William Brady was named as the winner of an Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA)-organised competition to revamp Iris Alley, off Springfield Road. All three early career architects work at locally based Isherwood + Ellis.The Shed was chosen because of its creativity and thoughtful incorporation of Iris Street residents, and because the concept could easily be applied to other alleys in Belfast, the RSUA said.The winning scheme beat off 10 other competitors, all of whom had to demonstrate a maximum materials budget of 500, and was awarded a 1,500 prize at RSUAs annual Architecture Night, held recently in the Ewart Building in Belfast.AdvertisementThe shortlisted entries were Stick around laugh a while by Ian Pitt; Lunar Phase by Ben Weir; The Cillary Device by Joel Jamieson and Scott Kennedy; and Under the Shelter by Jordan Beattie.Amberlea Neely from 9ft in Common, a council-backed programme to rejuvenate Belfast alleyways which supported the competition, said: Alleyways are an important part of Belfasts cultural fabric, so its wonderful to see projects like this one reimagining these spaces as a focal point for local engagement.The Shed demonstrates the possibilities for what lies just beyond our back gates, and we look forward to seeing the transformation of this underutilised alleyway into a green and vibrant space where community can flourish.The design competition was run by RSUA in collaboration with 9ft in Common and builders merchant JP Corry, as part of a Belfast 2024 Commission.Ciarn Fox, RSUA director said the competition was a joy for judges to assess and praised the creativity and generosity of the entries.AdvertisementHe added: I want to thank all the individuals and teams that put forward a proposal and for their generosity in making their plans available for public use[and] Whilst we only currently have funding to build the winning design, were hopeful that people will borrow some of the other designs and build beautiful shelters in alleys across Northern Ireland.Judges included Amberlea Neely and Aisling Rusk from 9ft in Common, Debbie Carragher, an Iris Street Resident, Connor Couston from JP Corry, RSUA President John Lavery, RSUA Vice President James Grieve, RSUA Council Member Alan Jones and RSUA Director Ciarn Fox.Concept OutlineThe Shed will serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of Iris Alley. Crafted from a repetition of modular timber panels that can be easily customised to create diverse forms and arrangements.Conceptually this will be a community led process, seeking input on the selection of each element from the residents to create a space tailored to their needs.This flexibility allows The Shed to take on various forms with a variety of purposes. It may encourage neighbours to gather for barbeques, gardening and skill-sharing.Ultimately, it will become a destination that will foster connections, reminding us that community can thrive in the most unexpected places. Source:Jennifer Speirs, Adrienne Campbell and William BradyThe Shed_ Gather and Grow by Jennifer Speirs, Adrienne Campbell and William Brady