NIBuilder 34-2 April-May

PROJECT

WILTON HOUSE, BELFAST

POPLAR INVESTMENTS LTD AND KELLY BROTHERS BUILDING CONTRACTORS HAVE COMBINED TRADITIONAL AND MODERN STYLES TO BRING HISTORICAL WILTON HOUSE BACK TO LIFE… VINTAGE CHARM WITH MODERN COMFORT

P oplar Investments Ltd and Kelly Brothers Building Contractors have allied the best of the past and the present to transform a 19th-century building in the centre of Belfast into serviced apartments with a boutique hotel feel. Wilton House is comprises of 23 luxury apartments divided into two buildings: the original one from 1837 and a brand-new, five- storey tower. The units are available with one, two or three bedrooms, bathroom, smart TV and streaming services, dining space, a totally equipped kitchen and a washer/dryer. The original building was designed by renowned architect Thomas Jackson, who contributed to the iconic baroque look of Belfast. At first, Wilton House actually comprised two homes. Over the next 200

years, it became a hotel and then the headquarters of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People. The building had been vacant since 2012 and, in 2019, Michael Brannigan from Poplar Investments Ltd proposed a £4.5 million redevelopment, including a new build led by Kelly Brothers Building Contractors. In 2023, the property was purchased by investor and entrepreneur Justin Quirk.

character and personality.” Construction started in December 2021, and Michael commented there was a lot of due diligence by the Historic Environmental Division (HED), and for a good reason, as Wilton House is of historical importance. With the help of RPP Architects and conservational architects Consarc Design Group, they established a design that would ensure the historical features would be preserved not only in the appearance of the building but also in the actual build-up, which was exemplified by the use of lime plaster as it was done 200 years ago to ensure wall breathability. “There was actually very little of the old building left when we arrived,” Michael explained. “The floor plan is still the same, but there were next

CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY

“It’s so important in any city for buildings with historical importance such as Wilton House to be maintained and kept up to date to reflect the past,” Michael commented. He took on the project in conjunction with his dad, who sadly passed away last year. “We were looking for something interesting, with a lot of

“It’s so important in any city for buildings with historical importance such as Wilton House to be maintained and kept up to date to reflect the past.”

26 | NI BUILDER

FOLLOW US ON:

www.northernbuilder.co.uk

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online