A New Chapter for Belfast’s Waterfront
Overview
City Quays Gardens is a standout example of thoughtful, sustainable urban regeneration. It reflects the power of collaboration between designers, developers, and specialist suppliers to create places that are both meaningful and enduring.
We’re proud that our materials and expertise are part of this landmark space – designed to bring people together and enrich Belfast’s public realm for years to come.
A Landmark Waterfront Transformation
Hardscape is proud to have contributed to the creation of City Quays Gardens, a transformative new public space on Belfast’s iconic waterfront. This green urban park is a key part of the Belfast Harbour City Quays Masterplan, designed to reconnect the city with the River Lagan and provide a vibrant destination for the community.
The project was driven by Belfast Harbour in partnership with Belfast City Council, with the visionary design led by Gillespies (Landscape Architects) in collaboration with Designers Smiling Wolf. The scheme was expertly delivered by Northstone (NI) Limited.
Our Role
Hardscape supplied a wide range of natural stone and hard landscaping materials for the paving which included Silva Vilar, Fernando Roriz and Branco Real European granite together with reclaimed and reconstituted Portuguese granite setts. The Royal Grey granite walling with anti-skate features, was chosen for its durability and aesthetic quality to complement the contemporary yet historically rooted design. Innovative Kellen Hydro Lineo grass paving was used also in the bedded areas to allow grass and plants to grow in between the concrete paving to create aesthetically pleasing zones between the walkways.
Hardscape’s sister company Hardscape Surfaces were also commissioned to produce the striking compass artwork, a central focal feature of the park that celebrates Belfast’s rich maritime and navigational history. This was intricately crafted using sandblasting, etching, and waterjet cutting techniques with Irish Kilkenny Blue limestone, Mist granite and bronze inlays, showcasing our specialist capabilities in surface detailing.
Its design offers a contemporary take on the traditional maritime compass, using a distinctive illustrative style to point towards notable destinations across the city, tying the harbour’s heritage to its present-day identity.
Additionally, Hardscape Surfaces produced and supplied the bespoke Kobra granite etched benches located throughout the gardens, providing sculptural seating that invites visitors to dwell, relax, and take in the revitalised surroundings.
The benches narrate the story of Belfast Harbour, charting its journey from a little-known 15th-century port to its current role as a thriving centre of commerce, tourism, and innovation. Each bench represents a chapter in the Harbour’s evolution:
- Origins – The early development of the Harbour, including the first wharf, the Long Bridge, and the beginnings of trade.
- Ambition – The rise of shipbuilding, the establishment of the first shipyards, and the launch of William Ritchie’s Hibernia.
- Prosper – The industrial expansion of the waterfront, the growth of Queen’s Island, and the shift to steam power.
- Innovation – The modern regeneration of the Belfast waterfront, the construction of City Quays, and the emergence of cultural landmarks such as Titanic Belfast.
Conclusion
City Quays Gardens stands as a vibrant new chapter in Belfast’s waterfront story – a green space that blends sustainability, heritage, and modern design. As part of the wider Belfast Harbour City Quays Masterplan, it re-establishes a vital link between the city and the River Lagan, offering a welcoming destination for residents, visitors, and future generations. Hardscape is delighted to have played a role in realising this vision, supplying bespoke elements that help shape a place where people can meet, reflect, and enjoy the city at its very best.