INTRODUCTION TO SITE
The Project Summary
We are interested in the consequences of architecture, and believe that architecture can be part of the process of change of places and societies. Accordingly, we need to ask – what will our architecture help change? Is it through the making of our building that we will help up skill people, or through the design process that we will engage with communities? Or is it through the creation of a specific resource that we will help bring about change?
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The site is located on Weston Island in Bath and we aim to develop ideas to support the vison for an Arts Quarter – a world class art centre that works locally and identifies globally. We must work with stakeholders including local artists, investors and the broader community to identify the vison for the site. In describing the story of our work, we need to be able to describe alternative narratives to what our building ‘is’. In some ways, the material ‘facts’ of a building can speak for themselves: we are interested in the what, where, why and how of architecture, in order to equip ourselves with new skills to create the contexts in which our work can make a difference.
Locating The Site
Weston Island sits on the western part of the City of Bath on the river Avon. The site area is approximately 2.3 Ha. Its surrounding context exemplifies the changing dynamics of Bath and its industrial and post-industrial landscape as it has evolved in recent decades. On either sides of the river, sits the two neighbourhoods Newbridge and Twerton. Newbridge to the north formed by residential, retail and leisure uses and Twerton to the south, formed by residential developments, light industrial uses and Bath City FC.
The island was created in the 1720’s following the construction of the Weston Cut canal that enabled this part of the river to be navigable. Weston Island has had several different functions throughout history, although mainly industrial uses. This includes woollen, timber and brass mills, storage by engineering company Stothert and Pitt and today as a bus depot. Due to its current usage, the island does not have an allocation in the adopted local plan as it was not considered that development would come forward within the plan period. There are still a significant number of industrial uses immediately adjacent to the river Avon, including weir functions on the island, reflecting the historic and ongoing importance of the river for the movement of goods.
Site Photos
Site Sections
Site Model:
Weston Island sits on the western part of the City of Bath on the river Avon. The site area is approximately 2.3 Ha. Its surrounding context exemplifies the changing dynamics of Bath and its industrial and post-industrial landscape as it has evolved in recent decades. On either sides of the river, sits the two neighbourhoods Newbridge and Twerton. Newbridge to the north formed by residential, retail and leisure uses and Twerton to the south, formed by residential developments, light industrial uses and Bath City FC.
The island was created in the 1720’s following the construction of the Weston Cut canal that enabled this part of the river to be navigable. Weston Island has had several different functions throughout history, although mainly industrial uses. This includes woollen, timber and brass mills, storage by engineering company Stothert and Pitt and today as a bus depot. Due to its current usage, the island does not have an allocation in the adopted local plan as it was not considered that development would come forward within the plan period. There are still a significant number of industrial uses immediately adjacent to the river Avon, including weir functions on the island, reflecting the historic and ongoing importance of the river for the movement of goods.