Shifting Borders and Changing Perceptions Part 2 Project 2025 Eimear Poucher Ulster University | UK This thesis explores how architecture can respond to the social, spatial, and psychological impacts of division in the border town of Newry, Northern Ireland. Positioned at the intersection of cultural identities, political histories, and geographic boundaries, Newry has long struggled with a fragmented civic identity and a lack of meaningful public infrastructure. While proposals for civic development have emerged in recent years, many have failed to resonate with the local community, often perceived as disconnected from everyday needs and experiences.Using a phenomenological approach informed by the writings of Georges Perec, the project begins with personal observation and reflection, mapping a journey from domestic familiarity to civic absence. This method reveals the need for a public centre that does more than provide services, it must foster belonging, encourage participation, and reflect the emotional landscape of its people.The proposal for a new City Hall and civic space on Sugar Island seeks to formalise Newry’s centre while addressing its ecological vulnerability, particularly in response to flood risks. Through elevated architecture, layered public spaces, and a circular debating chamber rooted in traditions of inclusive assembly, the design reclaims civic space as both a physical and symbolic anchor. It envisions a City Hall not only as a building but as a shared platform for identity, memory, and future-making. In doing so, the project offers a vision of civic architecture that is profoundly human. Tutor(s)