Five architects shortlisted to transform former school site

Barefoot Architects said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted for this extremely exciting competition! Addressing the loneliness epidemic, housing crisis, and ecological emergency were the drivers for our submission. It is very important to us that the project will be led by, and part of the existing community; and also nestled into its special landscape setting. We propose a range of new house types that enable multi-generational, mutually supportive, interdependent living – for anyone, and to enable Knowle to be forever home.”

Ferguson Mann Architects said: “As a local practice we are delighted to have been shortlisted for what promises to be a transformative project for south Bristol. The team was led by our own passive house designer, the scheme is a positive response to the biodiversity and climate challenges facing the city. These are issues that we are passionate about and are integral to our design response: retaining the existing trees and landscape, enhancing the current biodiversity with ponds and roosts, promoting community food growing, minimising the development’s carbon footprint, and delivering much needed low energy homes.”

gcp Chartered Architects said: “We are thrilled to be shortlisted to work on this sensitive and ecologically significant site for Goram Homes and Bristol Housing Festival. As certified Passivhaus designers and energy consultants, we prioritise sustainability in all our projects, including retrofitting hundreds of homes in Bristol and developing new housing across the South West. We plan to design affordable, sustainable housing for Novers Hill with respect and care, using innovative design techniques to create homes that marry with their surroundings and meet local needs. We are eager to work on this project and contribute to the community’s enhancement.”

Mitchell Eley Gould Architects with Studio Knight Stokoe said: “Novers Hill offers opportunity to grow a place founded on the core principles of neighbourhood, biodiversity enhancement, and community stewardship; a place where residents say, ‘I’m the steward of this home, ready for the next lucky owner.’ Our approach to ‘gentle density’ knits together homes, landscapes, and public spaces to create a symbiotic relationship between the land and built form. Engagement that enables co-design, ownership, and local voices to be heard is critical. Mitchell Eley Gould and Studio Knight Stokoe are delighted to have the chance to work with the local community and Goram Homes to create something rather special and very much, of the slopes.”

RHaR Architects said: “RHaR is delighted to be shortlisted and we look forward to demonstrating in more detail our ideas that prioritise placemaking at the heart of what we do. We have taken advantage of the site’s natural change in level to create a community-focused design that places emphasis on people and wildlife. RHaR with The Richards Partnership and Ecology Solutions believe Novers Hill presents an opportunity to connect South Bristol’s green infrastructure, creating a continuous natural spine that unite the community at the top of the Western Slopes.”

Five architect teams have been shortlisted in a competition to to transform a former school site next to the Western Slopes wildlife corridor – Charlie Watts