WHAT’S ON
New Bristol Architecture
In association with Royal Institute of British Architects
Bristol’s ever-changing streetscape has seen some exciting new additions in recent years. We’ve teamed up with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) to highlight projects by RIBA Chartered Practices that are making the city a centre for design excellence. www.architecture.com
Engineering in Focus
In association with the Institution of Civil Engineers
From transport systems to green tech, Bristol is on the cusp of major infrastructure investment. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and its members are the invisible superheroes of this transformation. www.ice.org.uk
- Friday 4PM
Designed by AHMM, one of the UK’s top 5 architecture practices, Building A is the first completed venue in the Assembly cluster and BT Group’s new Bristol home. Join us for an architect-led tour inside the offices of one of the UK’s telecoms giants. Behind the building’s striking pale green steel frame you’ll find 12 storeys of contemporary office space, equipped with all the latest tech. Each floor also has its own terrace, and there’s even a rooftop garden offering uninterrupted views over the city. Outside, you can follow a historic route through the site to explore the rest of the development and enjoy the surrounding landscape. Image (c) Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, 2023 @Assembly Bristol
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- Sunday 12PM
Embark on a captivating water tour that provides a unique perspective of the city’s rich history and modern charm. Join Martin Booth for a tour of Bristol by water, learning how the River Avon and Floating Harbour helped shape our city; and what shape our city would be in if we did not have them. On the historic Tower Belle, this tour will explore how Bristol gained international prominence as a port city, how buildings and infrastructure still in existence hark back to the days when the docks were a ‘forest of masts’, and what role the docks play today. Martin Booth is a bestselling guidebook author and the Editor of Bristol24/7, who takes regular walking tours around the Old City and Castle Park with Yuup. Arrive at 11.45 am for a 12 pm departure. Image (c) Martin Booth Photography, 2023 @bristolpacket
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- Saturday 2PM, 3PM
***Tour moved to 4 November*** Join acclaimed urban designer Clare Wilks (LDA Design) on a walk down one of Bristol’s most iconic streets in the heart of the city to hear about the vision for the future. Dating back to the 17th century, King Street has a significant historical and architectural legacy that reflects the city’s past as a thriving maritime and trading hub. The street dates back to the medieval era and contains many of the city's most famous heritage buildings, including Bristol Old Vic and the Llandoger Trow. The process of revitalising one of Bristol’s most renowned streets started after a successful push for pedestrianisation. Through collaboration with LDA Design, the artist selected for the public art commission, local organisations, and the community, King Street has been transformed into a car-free zone spanning its entire length. This has created a fresh open area that serves as a social hub in the city centre, with increased space for outdoor seating in public areas and greening improvements, bolstering Bristol's post-Covid economic recovery. This shift aims to create a more convenient and enjoyable environment for individuals on foot or on bicycles. Image (c) LDA Design, 2020 @ldadesign
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- Saturday 1PM, 2PM
One Portwall Square is a new-build office building, set back from Portwall Lane in Bristol to create a new pocket square, providing significant public realm improvements and a valuable pocket of open space to the Brunel Mile. The building introduces a new and innovative approach to sustainability, comfort, and well-being to the city of Bristol. The building’s appearance is simple and contextual, designed to optimise daylighting and ventilation and respond to the neighbouring 100 Temple Street. The building was designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Architects, who are also building occupants and will lead the tour to include their Bristol studio. Image (c) Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, 2023; One Portwall Square,2023
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- Saturday 10AM, 11AM, 12PM, 2PM, 3PM
Discover Bristol’s most unconventional office space. Experience PYTCHAir - a Boeing ‘727’ private jet standing atop shipping containers at Skyline Park BS4. This aircraft, once a symbol of excessive consumption, has been transformed into an office, meeting area, and event venue. Originally a passenger airline in 1981, it now boasts veneer surfaces, gold detail, and a display of crystals. The project is led by local activist and entrepreneur Johnny Palmer. PYTCHAir gained significant national media coverage in 2021 when transporting the fuselage led to temporary closure of the M5. The fuselage has since been painted by acclaimed street artists Harriet Wood, Curtis Hylton, and Hasan Kamil. With lots to explore, this is a great venue for families and children. In addition to the airliner, you will also encounter Bristol’s largest off-grid power station and the headquarters of the tech company PYTCH. Image (c) PYTCH Skyline Park, 2023 @PYTCH
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- Saturday 11AM, 12PM
Step inside the Royal West of England Academy and experience Light and Inspiration, the most significant restoration this cultural landmark has seen in over a century.
For 175 years, the RWA has been a space in which everyone is encouraged to nurture their talent, show their work, and be inspired by great art from the past and present. This exciting restoration project has transformed the galleries, facilities and visitor experience to allow the RWA to continue to promote and celebrate the arts within the vibrant city of Bristol for generations to come.
Led by director Alison Bevan and architect Nick Childs, this tour offers a unique insight into this incredible project, and the history of the RWA.
Image (c) Royal West of England Academy, 2023 @rwabristolHOW DO I BOOK FOR THIS?
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- Saturday 10AM
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- Friday 5PM
Bristol’s Floating Harbour was built to battle the tides. Since 1809, its unique system of locks and tidal gates has been holding back the River Avon, which has the second highest tidal range in the world. But as the climate crisis sees sea levels rise and storm run-off increase, this historic waterway is struggling to regulate the city’s water levels. What are the tools engineers and planners have at hand to manage flooding? Can engineers rise to the challenge and find our way out of a climate emergency? Supported by ARUP, join these Climate Superheroes on a tour of the Cumberland Basin and find out how historical and modern infrastructure works together to fortify the floodgates of the city. In partnership with Royal Academy of Engineers Celebrating Engineers as Climate Superheroes – Safeguarding the future of our planet. Image (c) Best of Bristol, 2014 @Paddyo Photography
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- Sunday 10.30AM, 11.30AM
Saint Michael the Archangel on the Mount Without has had an eventful life over the last 1000 years. The Mount Without as it is now known, is a ‘full event’ venue with one of a multitude of different events going on almost every day of the year. Come listen to a potted history of the church given by the co-founder Norman Routledge and learn about the restoration project that has gone on over the last 4 years, including a new roof, lowering the crypt floor, and everything else on their journey to get where they are today. You will see the main body of the church with its sprung dance floor, go into the crypt with its vaulted ceiling and lowered floor, and for those who fancy it, there will be an opportunity to go up the clock tower onto the roof to see the sights of the city from the 1450 tower. Image (c) The Mount Without, 2023 @The Mount Without Impermanence
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- Sunday 11AM
Make your way to Bristol’s historic harbourside to explore the masterplan of Wapping Wharf. Join Mark Osborne (Alec French Architects) on a tour of Bristol’s award-winning harbourside quarter. Once a derelict site, this major regeneration project has transformed this historic area into a thriving neighbourhood, complete with homes, independent restaurants, cafés and shops. Find out more about the approach taken to creating this popular development, as well as hearing about the new CARGO Work, a contemporary office building within the confines of the Grade II listed Gaol Walls. Meet at Museum Square, opposite Gaol Ferry Steps alongside M Shed. Image (c) Alec French Architects, 2021 @alecfrencharchitects