Templemore Baths is one of Belfast’s heritage gems: the only Victorian baths building in Ireland that survives in its original form, with its original swimming pool and slipper baths.
This important amenity has been used by the community in east Belfast for over 100 years. Following a multi-million pound project, it has been sympathetically restored and interpreted for people to continue to enjoy today.
Our interpretation focuses on telling the story of the baths through the people and place surrounding it, giving voice to the memories of those who once bathed, swam and worked there.
We delved into the history of Templemore, compiling comprehensive research that explored the context for establishing the Victorian bath and the industrial development of the city. This lead to our in-depth Interpretation Plan which supported a NLHF funding bid.
We developed a bespoke visual language that was sympathetic to, and enhanced, the architectural qualities of the space. Our visual language helps to interpret the building’s former functions, with a design that draws inspiration from the original Ticket Office, Slipper Baths and Minor Pool with a contemporary slant to appeal to today’s audiences.
We used signage and materials left in the space to create a visual language that would act as if you stepped back into time — but also learn a bit about the space and history as you did it. This resulted in a mix of beautiful typefaces: working hard to represent the story that spanned decades.
Work Sans was used extensively in the newer areas of the exhibition space and within the ticket office, slipper baths and more heritage areas, copy sits in Work Sans to inform.
Overall, the heritage space is a multi-faceted visitor experience at the heart of the newly-revitalised Templemore Baths. It brings the history and the community who used and looked after the baths to life, through sympathetic and engaging interpretation.
