April 15th was the is 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. This tragedy seems to somehow always captivate people’s interest. Countless documentaries, movies, shows, books, paintings and more have been created to try to explain and recount the stories of survivors. Even the 1997 hit movie is being re-released so that everyone can experience the fictional tragic love story of Rose and Jack. It may have something to do with the time period. 1900-1918 have always been a source of fascination, many of our favorite books, movies, and TV shows are also set during this period, including, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, and even Downton Abbey. The years leading up to World War I in the United Kingdom were full of wonderful designs and a happiness and peace that wasn’t regained for decades.
Modern and out of the box architecture has taken the place of Edwardian Baroque design but there is a new museum in Belfast, Ireland that embraces both the old and the new. The Titanic Belfast is a place for visitors to flock in order to re live and imagine life of the Titanic. It opened in late March of 2012 as a tribute to the city that birthed the infamous ship. It holds “nine galleries of interactive exhibition space, including a dark ride, underwater exploration theatre, recreations of the ship’s decks and cabins and a luxurious conference and banqueting suite”. The structure is clad with aluminum pieces and surrounded by reflecting pools in order to create the desired effect. The building itself was influenced by …”maritime themes, including ice crystals, ships’ hulls and the insignia of the White Star Line” but it looks eerily like an iceberg to me!
Here are a few photos of the project but check out the link to read and see more:
All quotes and photos taken from: http://www.titanicbelfast.com/Home.aspx
Happy Blogging, Catherine!