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GRAND OPERA HOUSE, BELFAST

Design Firm

  • Garuda Design

Photography

Photography by Chris Heaney - Courtesy of Grand Opera House

The Story

The curtain has been raised on the impressive £12.2 million restoration and development of the iconic Grand Opera House in Belfast that features a range of bespoke carpets from Ulster.

Designed by the leading Victorian theatre architect Frank Matcham and opened on 23 December 1895, many of the world’s leading actors, singers, dancers and entertainers have appeared on its stage, including Charlie Chaplin, Sarah Bernhardt, Laurence Olivier, Vera Lynn, Luciano Pavarotti, Darcey Bussell and Laurel and Hardy.

While the next generation of stars will be treading the boards on this famous stage, theatre goers will be able to enjoy the luxurious finish of our custom carpets in the Auditorium, Grand Circle Bar Foyer and within the reimagined Matcham extension.

Central to the restoration of the Grand Opera House was the conservation of the building’s unique architectural characteristics and paintings and our carpets have been designed to maximise the beauty of these original features.

We collaborated with renowned designer Suzanne Garuda of Garuda Design to create a unique aesthetic that matched the grandeur and style of the Grand Opera House.

This approach is clear in the main auditorium, where the distinctive carpet design reflects the decorative features on the balconies and ceiling. The custom carpet across the rest of this beautiful building build on this sense of harmony to create continuity.

Changes in colour and design epitomise the sense of flow. Bold crimsons in the Grand Circle Bar foyer add a sense of drama while the stunning helical staircase is amplified by a contemporary interpretation of a traditional design.

These creative statements within the carpet design complement the timeless elegance that radiates throughout the Grand Opera House and reflect the meticulous attention to detail by our team.

With some of the world’s best designers, Ulster can translate design aspirations into reality. This is only possible because of our patented weaving technology that allows us to create flooring works of art with unprecedented depth, texture and colour.