Groupwork and McGregor Coxall’s proposal is the next step in Bristol’s legacy of innovation, providing quality and integrated housing, revitalising Castle Park and designing towards a net zero carbon Bristol.

The site presents both historical and contemporary context - industry to leisure, medieval defence to parkland, trade to waterside. We propose to strengthen the connection of these.

The site is split into thirds with two blocks and one void visually linking riverside and park filled with biodiverse stepped gardens in between. It forms a safe and vibrant link between the park to water side and enhancing the harboursides social and cultural value. A strong riverside façade is reintroduced with a form broken down in height, softening with wicker balconies.

By introducing colonnaded ‘streets’ around perimeter of the building, it reinforces the transition between private and public frontages, improving connectivity while allowing community events to expand from the ground floor to the park.

By constructing with stone and timber, the building responds to historic materiality and fabric. The productive roof gardens and community kitchen reinstate sustainable and social visions of Bristol.

The design proposal splits the site into two buildings either side of a new public space. Both accommodating 200 one-to-three-bedroom flats with a 60/40, private/affordable mix. Naturally ventilated central cores allow two staircases to serve both tenures within their own red-line lease demise while using the same front door and entrance hall. Park facing and dockside levels are enclosed with stone colonnades making space for the new energy centre and community facilities, including a multipurpose space for classes and a creche, cycle repair shops, a café, public wc’s and a community kitchen.

McGregor Coxall designed the public and private areas with biodiversity in mind, setting aside sufficient area to provide 350kg of seasonal fruit and veg for nine months of the year. In addition to ground level public realm and activation, roof levels have been designed to be communal for residents while also productive. Balconies are large and not placed directly one above the other to allow for social exchange with neighbours.