International architect breathes new life into Maze

Daniel, the man behind the Ground Zero project in New York and the iconic Jewish Museum in Berlin, plans to create a “21st century shared space” at the former prison site, which will allow the community to share “a common future.”

Speaking during his visit to the site this week, Daniel said he had already met with local residents and hoped to have plans for the new Peace Centre drawn up before the end of the year, with the hope that the centre could be completed by 2015.

With a reputation for working on emotionally charged projects, Daniel was the first choice for McAdam Design when they decided to look for an international “design champion” for the project and when he got the call asking if he would like to partner with them he said he “didn’t hesitate.”

Daniel explained: “I thought it was a very meaningful thing and I didn’t hesitate. One of the reasons it is so important is because of the variety of views and we want to bring people together.

“That is the function of the building,” he continued. “That it delves into tragic history and memories but that it can provide a sense of movement.

“I am not a sentimentalist, I am a contemporary architect and a special space can really bring people who wouldn’t normally come. Then they can see the layers of history, see how fascinating it is and how peace can be built.

“We need to think about how we want to educate people, what do you want to do to inspire the public, particularly the younger generation to learn from history and do something fantastic with it.”

After meeting with local residents, Daniel said people were enthusiastic about the project. “People want something exciting to happen and to see the site coming back to life.

“It will be something very special,” he added, “Not just for the local community but for all of Ireland, the UK, Europe and the rest of the world.”