DRIFT Longlisted for Dezeen Awards 2025
DRIFT is open for Visits until 14th September on the Water in Central Belfast
We’re thrilled to share that our floating pavillion DRIFT has been longlisted for the Dezeen Awards 2025 in the architecture – small building category.
The Dezeen Awards are among the most prestigious accolades in international design and architecture. This year, over 4,300 entries from 89 countries were submitted, and our DRIFT project is one of just 262 architecture projects to be longlisted across all categories.
🔗 View our project on Dezeen Awards 2025
About DRIFT
DRIFT is a floating public pavilion moored on the River Lagan in central Belfast. Designed as a temporary structure that activates the city’s underused waterfront, it is clad in hand-woven marine rope and hosts immersive sound art by artist Matilde Meireles.
The project combines public art, placemaking, and architectural craft — reflecting our studio’s ethos of experimentation, collaboration, and community connection. Built with a minimal, reusable scaffold frame and recycled plastic floatation system, DRIFT can be redeployed to different urban contexts, encouraging new uses of post-industrial river infrastructure.
Visit DRIFT
DRIFT is open to the public every day from 12–7pm until 14th September.
Step aboard the floating pavilion to experience immersive sound art, take in the riverside views, and explore a new civic space in the heart of Belfast.
📍 Located at the Big Fish pontoon
📸 Follow us on Instagram at @drift_lagan for live updates, events and behind-the-scenes insights.
🗓️ Final day: Saturday 14th September
A Recognition of Public Architecture in Northern Ireland
As a Belfast-based architecture and urban design practice, we are proud that a locally designed, community-focused project like DRIFT has received international recognition. The Dezeen longlist includes practices from across the globe, and it's an honour to see our work featured alongside them.
This nomination builds on OGU’s growing reputation for thoughtful, place-specific architecture. Our studio specialises in public realm design, adaptive reuse, and temporary structures, often working with partners across Ireland and the UK to shape projects that make meaningful civic impact.
Supported by Public Partners
This project has been made possible with generous support from:
Belfast City Council
Department for Communities (DfC)
Queen’s University Belfast
We are grateful for their continued investment in public space, cultural programming, and civic life along Belfast’s waterfront.
Thank You
Huge thanks to our collaborators — especially MMAS, Matilde Meireles, Design ID (engineers), Native Coffee, Lagan Currachs, and all of the volunteers and community partners who helped support and weave and build the DRIFT structure and story over the last 12 months at three different sites.
Stay Connected
Follow along as we await the shortlist announcement in October — and fingers crossed for the Dezeen Awards party in London this November!
📸 Instagram: @oguarchitects
📸 Project Instagram: @drift_lagan
💼 LinkedIn: OGU Architects
🌐 Website: www.oguarchitects.com
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