Reimagining Transport:
A Journey across the Land, Sea & Sky

The Transport Museum
is going on a journey...

The Ulster Transport Museum at Cultra explores and exhibits methods of transport by land, sea and sky, past and present. Once a joint offering with the folk museum, it is now a stand alone attraction, in need of development which takes advantage of its vast site.

Our Place
in Space

As part of the UK wide Unboxed festival, the Ulster Transport Museum site will host the first 7 planets in Oliver Jeffer’s scaled sculture trail of the universe. The trail will begin at the Museum and flow down onto the greenway, opening up a new permanent entrance to the site. While the festival programming will run through September and October 2022. The trail will ultimately become part of the collections, staying onsite at UTM.

Our Vision

This masterplan will explore the potential of the site and find ways to draw the different narratives of the museum together into one compelling identity. It aims to:

  1. Build upon the exposure and excitement of the Our Place in Space trail.
  2. Create new visitor journeys from the new greenway path to the train station.
  3. Encourage visitors to make repeat visits.
  4. Utilise our vast outdoor space.
  5. Bring motion to our static collections.
  6. Set the Transport Museum on a journey of self-discovery, determining where it will be in the next 6 months, 2 years and 5 years.

Where
We Are

USI worked with different teams from across the Transport Museum to define the site’s strengths, challenges and opportunities, and co-design a strategic vision for the site. They also enlisted the expertise of award-winning landscape designer Darren Hawkes to understand the potential of the site’s outdoor space.

Map Workshops

Our Vision

We are not just a Transport Museum.

We are a protected heritage site, a Museum of Innovation, a Titanic Collection, a gallery of Land, Sea and Sky, a Rail and Road gallery and a parkland.

We also have massive untapped potential; to engage with audiences outdoors and along the greenway, establish a night time economy and build more interactive experiences.

With the addition of the Space trail and our ambitions to explore new areas like natural sciences and sustainability, the museum has begun to transcend its current identity.

To aid this transformation, we have developed a new lens through which we can begin to build the museum’s future. Inspired by the name of one of our existing galleries, the themes of Land, Sky and Sea draw all the narratives of the Transport Museum together and provide scope to develop the collections into new areas.

Our Themes

A set of themes which guide the new direction of the Transport Museum’s outdoor spaces. Each of these themes can interact with the overarching lens of Land, Sea and Sky to open up new topics to be explored across the site.

While this plan seeks to evolve the museum site as a whole, consideration should be given to how these themes can be applied to exhibitions in the galleries and programming in the spaces.

INNOVATION

Building on the Museum of Innovation to inspire and excite the next generation of innovators to play, be brave, experiment and push boundaries. Bringing innovation to life through immersive experiences and hands on opportunities.

SUSTAINABILITY

Channeling our innovative spirit to explore new sustainable technologies and materials in our collections. Championing sustainable practices in our facilities and setting an example for what is possible.

SCALE

Changing perspectives by seeing human innovations and Northern Ireland in the context of a wild and wonderful universe. From tiny atoms to an expansive solar system.

NATURAL SCIENCES

Expanding educational programmes. Encouraging play, exploration, understanding and deeper connection with the natural landscapes of the site.

TRAVEL

Not just cars, trains, planes and rockets - an exciting journey full of possibilities. From the mobility of your feet on the ground, to whizzing along the greenway on a bike, exploring the solar system and tracking the passing of time.

BIODIVERSITY

Celebrating and exploring the diverse landscapes of the site and connecting from the train station through the trails and forest to the walled garden, beach, sea and sky.

1.1 The Oliver Welcome

An Oliver Jeffers mural at the site entrance will create a sense of arrival for the Space Trail.

SKY

SCALE

TRAVEL

1.2 Food and Drink

Groundworks laid for food trucks to popup and casual seating options.

LAND

TRAVEL

INNOVATION

1.3 Cycle
Sculptures

Artist commisioned bicycle racks compliment the collections and provide cycling infrastructure.

LAND

SEA

SKY

TRAVEL

SUSTAINABILITY

1.4 Reopening the Walled Garden

Securing pathways and creating a flexible event space for the public to enjoy as the long term plans are developed.

LAND

BIODIVERSITY

SUSTAINABILITY

1.5 The Power of Pee

Biotoilets which turn pee into energy will provide visitor infrastructure onsite while telling a story about sustainability.

LAND

SUSTAINABILITY

INNOVATION

1.6 Bedding in the Trail

Each planet sculpture is bedded in with planting which reflects the surfaces of the planets and tells a story about travel and the passage of time.

SKY

SCALE

TRAVEL

BIODIVERSITY

1.7 Train Station Welcome

An installation at Cultra Station will brand the space, create a sense of arrival and present a new narrative for the Transport Museum.

LAND

TRAVEL

SUSTAINABILITY

1.8 Lighting the Trail

New lighting installations which will facilitate night-time access to the site - making the walled garden and space trail safe and accessible spaces during winter evenings.

LAND

SKY

SCALE

TRAVEL

1.9 Brickwork Intervention

Stain or paint brickwork walls as backdrop to the sculptures, and to upgrade the facade in advance of phase 2 and 3 developments.

SKY

SCALE

NATURAL SCIENCES

2.1 3D Printed Living Wall

This structure around the gallery building becomes the newest collection item - showcasing new technology and providing spaces to explore and relax.

LAND

INNOVATION

SUSTAINABILITY

2.2 Organic Sculpture Trail

Commissioned sculpture trail which showcases innovative and sustainable materials like flax, rubber, mycelium and nettles. Providing spaces for people to travel through, rest in and learn.

LAND

SUSTAINABILITY

INNOVATION

2.3 Maker Lab in the Stables

A creative, inspiring and multifunctional space which facilitates education workshops, conferences, meetings and volunteer meetups.

LAND

SEA

SKY

INNOVATION

NATURAL SCIENCES

2.4 Stables Cafe

Provides a permanent food and drink offer for staff, visitors and walkers. Includes food composting station and interpretation around sustainable food and waste practices.

LAND

INNOVATION

SUSTAINABILITY

2.5 Activating the Meadow

A projection mapped globe pavillion could be used as a workshop and event space in the meadow or could be set up in other locations as a satelite to the museum.

LAND

SKY

SCALE

TRAVEL

3.1 Celebrating The Result

The Result ship is celebrated with a blue ribbon of planting which runs down to the sea and creates the illusion that the boat is back out on the water.

SEA

TRAVEL

BIODIVERSITY

3.2 Stories by the Sea

Collections expand onto the beach through installations and interpretation. Exploring sustainability and natural sciences.

SEA

NATURAL SCIENCES

BIODIVERSITY

3.3 Water on Water

Walkway over the water becomes a destination for swimming and paddleboarding.

SEA

TRAVEL

NATURAL SCIENCES

SUSTAINABILITY

3.4 Walled Garden Playscape

Encouraging accidental play for adults and children. Acts as an extension of the Museum of Innovation - teaching teamwork, embracing failure, creative thinking, problem solving.

LAND

SEA

SKY

INNOVATION

TRAVEL

Outline
Budget

OPIS Works Cost £
New entrance gate 5,000
350m new permeable footpath system 45,000
Tidy vegetation along route 8,000
7 foundation pads for sculptures 10,000
Power feed for 7 sculptures 10,000
Relocate existing street lighting 15,000
OPIS Additionals Cost £
New wayfinding signage on coast path 3,000
7 exterior LED spot lights for sculptures 6,000
Landscaping / revetment works 20,000
Footpath lighting 10,000
Graphics on plywood hoarding around ship 4,000
Commission OJ artwork on gallery facade (1.1) 10,000
OPIS Totals 146,000
UTM Projects Cost £
1.1 The Oliver Welcome see OPIS Costs
1.2 Food and Drink 38,000
+ Airstream Purchase & Fit Out 50,000
1.3 Bike Racks 40,000
1.4 Reopen Walled Garden see Walled Garden
+ Tensile Structure 100,000
1.5 Power of Pee Bio Toilets 15,000
1.6 Planting around 7no sculpture 70,000
1.7 Train Station Welcome 15,000
1.8 Lighting the Trail 100,000
1.9 Brickwork Intervention 7,500
Infrastructure Cost £
Install 6no 16amp external power sockets 12,000
Site signage 25,000
Remove portacabin 6,000
Walled Garden Work Cost £
Remove existing model rail infrastructure -
Remove unwanted vegetation -
Repair parapet walls -
Repair entrance/exit gates -
Additional hoarding 5,000
Clear existing footpath 10,000
UTM Totals 479,000
UTM Projects Cost £
2.1 3D Printed Living Wall 600k
2.2 Organic Sculpture Trail 1m
2.3 Makers Lab in Stables 500k
2.4 Cafe in Stables 150k
2.5 Activating the Meadow 150k
Total 2.4m
UTM Projects Cost £
3.1 Celebrating the Result 30k
3.2 Stories by the Sea 70k
3.3 Walk on Water 350k
3.4 Innovation Playpark 2m
Total 2.45m

Reimagining Transport:
A Journey across the Land, Sea & Sky

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