A unique exhibition revealing aspects of Belfast architecture normally 'hidden' from the world opens this week.

The Secret Laboratory, curated and co-designed by Paul Clarke, Course Director of the Master of Architecture at the University of Ulster, brings together a series of private reflections by architects from across Ireland and the UK.

It is the first time that the personal notebooks and sketchbooks of these writers, lecturers, practitioners and critics have been on public display.

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"This exhibition shows the quality of ideas, observations, thoughts and reflections that are often concealed in a drawer in the studio, a coat pocket or in the imagination of the individual architect," said Mr Clarke.

"In our digital age the drawing and the sketch still have their value as being fundamental to artistic, theoretical and architectural practice.

"We are familiar with the sketchbook as used by architects on the 'grand tour' to record their journey - but what of the everyday observations of things that inspire architects and in turn are captured in their notebooks," he said.

The Secret Laboratory - Notebooks and Narratives is co-designed by Niall O'Hare, a graduate of the Master of Architecture at the University of Ulster.

The exhibition opens tonight at Belfast's PLACE gallery and runs until the end of March.

(NS/BMcC)