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Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich is an Irish language cultural centre founded in 1991 and named after Robert 'Shipboy' McAdam, a Presbyterian Gaelic
revivalist from the mid 19th century and Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich, another gaelic scholar.
The building is a red brick church built in a gothic style and was the Broadway Presbyterian Church in Belfast from its construction in 1882 up until 1982.
 The building became vacant in the mid 1980's and was
renovated to make workshop and educational space though conversion and insertion of two floors with fire exits into the building. In that process the internal sense of the church was lost and the basic structure of
the layout was defined.
A group of Irish language enthusiasts saw an opportunity when this renovated building became available in 1991 and collectively formed 'An
Chultúrlann' to use the renovated church for the promotion of the Irish language.
The purpose of this project was to add a significant extension to the church building. The proposals
developed as a response to the immediate needs of the building program and a set of much broader contexts.
The main new programmatic elements are:
A Gallery space
An Irish Language Exhibition space
A Board/Meeting Room
A roof Terrace
Additional Office Space.
 In focussing on the immediate aspects of the design we sought to
resolve the functional needs of the spaces of the extension, the circulation and management of the building and how the building would function given the pre defined existing circulation. To this end
we resolved the layout into Public, Semi Public and Private zones ensuring continuous circulation within each and management controls when moving between them.
We also sought to expose elements of the older church hitherto covered while also ensuring that as much of the sense of the original building was retained. Most notably; the church
tower which had fallen into use as a store, could be returned to use as circulation space; the side wall of the church could
be used to add character to the internal spaces of the extension; the church trusses could become a part of the character of the office mezzanines.
The extension would also necessarily have to relate to the architecture of the original church. In elevation the concept of the extension was generated from mapping the golden
section onto the existing elevation and the extension. This generated an overall form for the extension which clearly defers to the church tower allowing a unified asymmetric
elevation. Furthermore the form of the glazing to the extension makes reference to the main gothic window on the main elevation of the original church.
Materials were chosen to reflect the church and the history of Belfast: The brick skin of the extension clearly references the
brick of the church building while also being the main building material in the Victorian expansion of the city. We intentionally limited the tonal difference between the brick and
mortar to enhance the sense of this being a skin. The copper refers to the copper clad church tower which was unfortunately reduced in height many years ago.
The programme necessarily sits in a set of much broader contexts:
 1. The recent history of the Irish language in Belfast had been one of make do and mend. Of putting up with sub standard facilities. Of
being relegated to backstreets. Of having no fixed abode. The facility had to make a statement that the language is about the future and that that future should be as public and visible as any other cultural
activity.
2. The building is the focal point in a regeneration strategy for this part of the city, the 'Gaeltacht Quarter'. The building needed to
strongly define this role. It was always clear to us that the extended building needed to be a landmark. We were fortunate that the church
building itself and the site had historically acted as a landmark on this part of 'the road'. The extension needed to act to redefine this landmark as evidence of the changed role of the building and so
needed to make a strong and bold visual statement. The building form makes a statement of modernity, change and confidence. Continual themes in the development of the Irish Language.
3. The building sits at height on the end of a major axis. The extension provided the opportunity to redefine the terminus of this axis coming from Beechmount.
Prior to the construction of the extension the terminus 'leaked' into the adjacent Nansen street via the dominance of billboards. By taking the extension out to the
back of the footpath the new role of the building became visible and the axis could be satisfactorily closed. The extension and it's play of solid and void together with
illuminated signage allow it to contribute to the street both day and night.
4. As a 'public' building there was no developed sense or relationship between the building and the public domain. This is addressed in two ways;
The glazed extension makes very visible the activity within, even right up to the second floor conference room. External shuttering has been kept to a minimum
and the gallery extension has been detailed with acoustics in mind to allow lectures, talks and poetry readings.
The full height glazing is right at the back of the footpath and exhibitions have been erected with this in mind to allow display boards to be read from the public
footpath. The activity previously hidden within is now truly public.
Secondly the external space between the building and the public footpath is now clearly structured. We have taken advantage of the gradient in the street to
provide level access while introducing steps which must have formed part of the original building. A widening of the footpath at the steps marks a public welcome.
A low retaining wall provides a public seat to those awaiting a bus.
The continuing gradient has allowed a raised area set sufficiently above the footpath to define it as a separate place while
sufficiently low that it does not dominate. This has been used for external festivities, the Christmas tree, street ceilidh and outside of winter is used as an external dining area.
Since the opening of the extension the building has proven to enhance its status as a landmark on this arterial route. It has acted to attract new visitors from
other parts of the city and tourists from abroad. It has enhanced its role as a focal point for the Irish Language community .
The response from the community in general has been one of pride and this is evidenced in both the intensity of use and the physical respect given to what is a very
confidently public and open facility.
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