September 06, 2005
By Pauline Reynolds, Belfast Telegraph
Celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin is using his green-fingered magic to transform the landscape at an old Ulster bakery into a work of art. He's taken on the task of designing the courtyard of an impressive multi-million pound development at one of Belfast's landmark buildings.
The historic Ormeau Bakery is being completely refurbished and converted into 156 loft-style apartments. Behind the ambitious project is Barry Gilligan, director of Big Pictures Development, who's keeping under wraps exactly what the TV garden designer has in store.
"I've met Diarmuid on-site several times and he's very enthusiastic," said the Belfast businessman. "We're cutting a section out of the middle of the building from the first floor level up and that's going to be a landscaped courtyard garden. "It's quite a big space, which will be split by a feature glass lift. "As you go up in the lift, you'll be able to look out over the garden and we just wanted to make it something very special and very different. "We are also aiming to raise the bar on this development in terms of quality and that's why we enlisted Diarmuid. "He has come up with a really innovate design, but I can't reveal anything else about it just at the minute."
Although the old bakery is not a listed building, the developers are keen to treat it as such. Many of its original features will be maintained or restored to their former glory. The plans include retaining the impressive terrazzo tiled entrance foyer, cantilevered staircase and the landmark exterior Ormeau Bakery clock.
