Wesley Farren is the principal architect at Bee Architecture in Ballynafeigh, a small practice which specialises in home design and work on listed buildings. He tells us how he wants to visit the other side of the world and his desire to knock down the newest addition to one of the local area’s most famous sites...
I was born in Omagh County Hospital in November 1979 – the year the first post-it notes were invented
I grew up in the greater Baronscourt area. It is the home of the Duke of Abercorn’s family since 1612 and is among that handful of old family estates which combine great historical and architectural interest with a landscape of outstanding natural beauty
I now live in Ballynafeigh
I was educated at Newtownstewart Model Primary School, Strabane High School, Strabane Grammar School, University of Northumbria Newcastle Upon Tyne, and Queen’s University Belfast
My earliest memory is my first day in primary school when I was amazed at the size of their sand pit
When I was a child, I wanted to be a teacher
I actually became an architect
Worst job I’ve have ever had - picking potatoes
Best job I’ve have ever had - being an architectural assistant in a practice in Newcastle upon Tyne between July 2005 and August 2007
The bravest thing I have ever done - being there for my mum who was diagnosed with cancer last year after going through a hysterectomy, two other operations for gall stones and a burst stomach ulcer the year before
The stupidest thing I have ever done was to drive into the back of someone, on the Knock dual carriageway at traffic lights
The biggest thing I have yet to do is travel to New Zealand
The people who inspired me most are Nelson Mandela and Bob Dylan
The most important thing in the world is my health and my ability to walk, see, hear, smell, touch, etc
I am very bad at swimming
I am very good at being modest
I am most proud of becoming an architect. It was a very work intensive course
My best friend would say I have some good stories to tell
I like to relax by having a quiet pint to myself in the local
My favourite saying is “Poor in riches, rich in life”
The last book I read was The Pianist by Wladyslaw Szpilman, an extraordinary story of one man’s survival in Warsaw during the second World War
My favourite movie is... The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
The actor that would play me in a movie of my life would be Simon Pegg
The song that makes me dance is a song by Vitalic entitled See the Sea (Red) amongst others
The song I would have played at my funeral would be Dance Tonight by Paul McCartney
The best place I have ever been is Italy
The place I have to visit before I die is New Zealand
The last person I talked to on the phone was my mum
The last text message I received was from my beautiful girlfriend Laurene
If I were a politician, I would make public transport free
If I won the lottery, I would travel the world, give some to charity and close friends
If I could describe myself in five words, they would be caring, polite, friendly, optimistic, and self-motivated
If I could invite five people (living or dead) to a dinner party, they would be five of my closest friends
If I could change one thing about South Belfast, it would be to improve some of the derelict buildings and demolish the extension to the Ormeau Bakery - its massing does not fit the Ormeau area
My favourite thing about South Belfast is the people, the various shops, and the greenery
