Which of Bristol’s buildings would you demolish?

Which of Bristol’s buildings would you save, and which would you take a wrecking ball to if the choice was yours? This is a question posed by The Architecture Centre as they host their first ever Bristol Doors Open Days festival debate on Wednesday, September 6 2017.

Bristol’s buildings and cityscapes are ever changing. Like its people, the city’s buildings come and go, get a facelift or grow old. Bristol Doors Open Days (September 7-10), the city’s largest architecture festival, opens spaces across the city celebrating both old and new, from historic landmark to unknown newbie on the block. But as the city grows and space gets tight what ancient eyesores would you prefer to see the back of?

To get the conversation going, we asked some local designers and festival-goers what city shakeup they’d like to see.

Robert Delius, head of sustainable design, Stride Treglown

“I’d demolish the derelict building on Temple Gate – the one clad in scaffolding that has been waiting for something to happen to it for years. Despite its gateway location to the city this depressing sight has greeted almost every Bristol visitor walking from Temple Meads for over a decade. Hopefully something will be done with it in the new Temple Quarter masterplan. As for saving, I’d choose Royal York Crescent. Much less well known than its famous neighbour in Bath, it is however twice as long and arguably more beautiful.”

Ingrid Chauvet, director, Rise Structures

“Being given a wrecking ball should be fun, however, I found it nerve wracking.

“You can find buildings that deserve to be flattened but taking them down is not easy. Those spaces are useful. Those buildings need to be there. And this is the crux of the matter: it is because they need to be there that we accept them. So let’s be brave and put that wrecking ball to the Trenchard Street Carpark with another swing towards The Crescent, Harbourside. And then use that courage to save the Tramway Generating Station Building on East Tucker Street, re-introducing the trams back in use within all the new space we just created.”

Amy Robinson, business development manager, Triodos Bank

“Although I love the way Bristol and its architecture are constantly changing, it’s impossible to imagine saving only one building. However, if pushed, I’d choose Cabot Tower. It’s a wonderful place and, if we found ourselves rebuilding Bristol from scratch, we would benefit from having that strategic vantage point.

This might be an odd choice for someone who works for a bank, but I would demolish the derelict Norwich Union and Bank of England buildings in Castle Park. This site has tremendous potential to contribute something really valuable to the city. Although their architectural merits (among other things) have kept them standing, I think our established institutions—such as banking—could sometimes benefit from thinking more about the future than the past.”

Nigel Dyke, director, Alec French Architects

“Bristol is a city that doesn’t have the ‘uniformity’ of cities such as Bath. It is quite usual to come across buildings of different styles and periods side by side. This often means that there are hidden gems everywhere. One of my favourite buildings in Bristol is one of these gems: numbers 20-24 Park Row, designed by James Hart in 1902, are wonderful examples of Arts and Crafts architecture. As well as the gems there are the eyesores. I would repurpose the former sorting office, not demolish it; I would, however, knock down the 51.02 residential slab at the bottom of Cheltenham Road.

Carys Marshall, Bristol Doors Open Days volunteer

“I would target my demolition ball at buildings that are poorly built, aren’t providing healthy conditions for those inhabiting them, and are past being affordable to conserve. I believe aesthetic to be a grey topic, whereas the healthiness of a building is black and white. If the heart were to rule over mind, I would demolish the flats that cross over the road next to the Bear Pit which leads to Gloucester Road. I personally find them unpleasant and don’t like the effect they have on the overall aesthetic of the area. Hearing stories from fellow students that have lived there, it doesn’t sound like a healthy or pleasant place to live either.

“Currently, I would choose to save the Watershed buildings that were once warehouses. I love their reuse and reminder of Bristol’s historic past as a dock. Though I’m sure I’m yet to discover my favourite place in Bristol – only time and exploring will tell!”

The debate takes place on Wednesday September 6 2017 at Arnolfini. For more information or to book your free ticket, visit www.architecturecentre.org.uk/whats-on/balloon-debate-saving-bristols-buildings. To join the debate about which buildings in Bristol deserve the wrecking ball, use #BristolDODBalloon on social media.

Read more: 108 venues to visit on Bristol Doors Open Days 2017