News / Millennium Square
‘Unimaginative and inappropriate, truly horrible’
Plans exclusively revealed by Bristol24/7 for a new hotel on Millennium Square have been met with a resounding chorus of disapproval.
The vast majority of readers are keen for the currently empty plot of land to be developed, but have criticised the “highly unimaginative use of space”.
The proposed scheme for Waterfront Place sees a 151-room hotel and restaurant on Millennium Square, as many as three bars and restaurants facing Bordeaux Quay, and office space as well as the hotel on the upper levels.
is needed now More than ever
Architects of the seven-storey building say that its design “takes account of the Conservation Area location and the local distinctiveness”.
The plans by architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) are currently in an early pre-application phase, with the land owned by Bristol City Council.
Waterfront Place would be located next to Las Iguanas and Pryzm on Millennium Square – image: AHMM
Many people share the view of Mark Hill, who said: “This is just unimaginative and inappropriate. Truly horrible.”
Former Bristol mayor and architect George Ferguson called the plans a “bloody disgrace!”
He tweeted: “We saved Bristol’s very best city centre site for something special – not for another crass piece of commercial architecture… Are we really prepared to sell ‘Bristol’s soul?”
Former Bristol West MP Stephen Williams said: “In 1997 Bristol almost got a world class piece of architecture (the “exploding greenhouse”!) as its performing arts centre. The waterside location has been vacant for 23 years. Long enough to imagine something better than the flat pack architecture anytown hotel proposed here.”
Pete Badger replied: “I suspect the architects were given a very small budget and a list of internal brand design constraints as long as your arm; the same as for a hotel almost anywhere. All the more reason to push back; landmark design is needed here and needs the client to release a bigger budget.”
Commenting on Facebook, Chris Rydlewski said: “The lack of vision is astonishing. Apart from Millennium Square it will fit in with the architectural monstrosity that is the dock / Anchor Rd area.”
Lyn Porter added: “This will downgrade the area hugely, so unimaginative and a big mistake. Surely to goodness we could have something more architecturally interesting. This is just a block, it’s boring and adds nothing to the area.”
Architect Rob Gregory tweeted: “This is already attracting strong responses & will focus the debate about the quality of contemporary architecture in the city. @AHMMArchitects is fully invested in Bristol & understand this site’s context, significance & prominence. Bring on the debate I say.”
Main image: AHMM
Read more: Rees: ‘Cities need to redesign themselves’
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
