The proposal is to demolish the existing building and redevelop for purpose-built student accommodation and flexible commercial space.
The Society commented on the information produced for the public consultation exercise carried out in autumn 2024. These were sent to the applicant but since then little has changed in the proposals.
The context elevations and views show that the building proposed is bland, too high and overbearing in some views, which confirms our earlier comments that the scheme is poor aesthetically and does not relate to the history of the site which is in the Silverthorne Lane Conservation Area and adjacent to the listed Marble Works, an opinion echoed by Historic England.
We consider that there must be a fundamental rethink of the elevational treatment of this building to respond to the character and appearance of the Conservation Area. There needs to be greater horizontal emphasis with a more clearly defined base, middle and top to the elevations and different architectural treatments applied to distinct parts of the elevations. The dull grey brickwork needs to be replaced by a more contextual material palette reflecting the Bristol red brick and stone vernacular.
Other comments are:
- Winter-gardens have been added to student bedrooms on the north-eastern elevation as an acoustic device to counter the noise from Motion Nightclub. We consider that the glazed wall of the winter-gardens should be expressed externally as a different architectural treatment so enlivening the building’s elevations.
- Although a good level of daylight is achieved in most rooms, the future building on the adjacent site to the north will have a significant negative effect on daylight in those rooms facing it, which could be overcome by enlarging the windows, again enlivening the building’s elevations.
Willie Harbinson