Our Vision | DRU Research

MANIFESTO

Key Constraints and Opportunities

Key Opportunities Plan

Key Constraints Plan

Key Opportunities Plan

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OPPORTUNITIES

Better signage, access and safety features (e.g. lighting, safety rails, etc) to encourage greater awareness and use of the Avon towpath.
Improved access down riverfront.
Development of better crossings and pedestrian management on Lower Bristol Road to encourage a flow of users.
Improving pedestrian experience and routes from Twerton High Street to Weston Island.
Using River as a link to tourist centre.
Using art center on Weston Island to bring in commercial benefits from tourism.
Enhancing current vegetation areas to increase biodiversity and water quality re-wilding.
Green public space.
Utilising Bristol-Bath Cycle route which runs adjacent.
Providing jobs and economic value to the surrounding area
Promoting Local business (local artists, coffee rooms etc).
Creating green pathways/links between existing parks and green spaces.
Cycle parking, electric scooter charging.

CONSTRAINTS

Bristol Road and the railway create a physical and psychological barrier between North and South of the site.
Pedestrian and cycling access to site are in poor conditions and less connected.
Visibility of site routes along river and tree barrier distracts views into site.
Wall across pedestrian walkway across island destructs the views into site.
High presence of bats disturbed by bright lighting.
Weir water noise.
Road and train noise.

Key Principles

Connecting Communities

Enhancing The East and West Connections

Socio Economic

Connecting Communities

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CONNECTING COMMUNITIES

ENHANCING THE EAST WEST CONNECTION

CREATING A SELF-SUSTAINING ISLAND

ADDING SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE TO THE LOCAL AREA

To connect the two neighbourhoods of Newbridge and Twerton and to provide shared cultural amenities to help build neighbourliness, identity and to break down physical and metaphorical barriers.

Working with existing plans to create a riverside public realm that utilises the river as a connection route from Bristol to Bath city centre and promotes walking, cycling and the use of public transport to encourage sustainable lifestyles.

Providing the infrastructure to allow the island to be self-sufficient, from energy use to strengthening bio-diversity and extending the natural qualities of the site.

Adding social and economic value to the surrounding communities through developing a place which support local artists, creates jobs and provides a space for the community to meet, educate and learn.

Masterplan

We envision a future with strong, supportive communities. Where people have the power and the tools to design happy, co-created, sustainable spaces. Spaces which are responsive to their inhabitants and provide economic and social value.

We believe that by bringing architecture and communities together we can form strong local identities that create a sense of belonging and ownership. This enables a greater understanding of different cultural values

Aims

To link existing communities using art and creative indoor and outdoor spaces + facilities
Biodiversity – to enhance relationship to nature
Explore potential of site for renewable energy
Connections- relating to the river, transport links and the rest of Bath - using art to create tourist interest
Provide a cultural resource and space for local artists – a national and regional significance
Provide open inclusive space for the community to engage and enjoy the artistic presence as well as the natural aesthetic of the island

Objectives

Provide shared creative spaces and facilities for the local community to support creating more cohesive community.
Create a character for the site to encourage more employment and investment around the art and creative community
Be bourn from the Weston Island surrounding communities – involving and consulting the communities including local artists and creatives.
To relate to surrounding architectural context
Increase visibility and access to the site – using wayfinding devices
To create sustainable transport links using existing cycleways + river = to reinforce the river corridor through Bath

Impact

Art is used as a catalyst for forming an island identity
An enhanced value of art within the local community – engaged with local artists and creative industries
Increased access to site and between communities, bridging existing divisions
The island has become more accessible and a valued, well used public space
Create a character and more employment and investment
Enhance local species and promote the regeneration of the river

Weston Island Art Depot offers the opportunity to provide essential connections between surrounding communities whilst simultaneously acting as an economic pole for the local area. We seek to integrate local residents, business owners and stakeholders into the design process in order to ensure our project closely reflects local needs.

The project builds on the principles established under an existing proposal put forward by a collective of artists, academics and creative professionals to create a ‘world-class Arts Quarter on Weston Island that will engage local communities and attract international visitors’ (Bath Arts Depot, 2020).

Using this as a basis, and building on the findings from our research, four strategic principles have been established that underpin our collective vision.

Medium Scale Masterplan

PEDESTRIAN & CYCLING DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

UTILISING THE RIVER AVON & ENHANCING GREENERY

WAYFINDING LOCATIONS

We are proposing the development of the existing path from Weston Island to Bath Centre to ensure a better connectivity from the town centre to its wider surrounding. Also, the development of the path leading towards Bristol.

Enhancing the development of the River Avon and the nature surrounding this area and beyond is sufficient to the proposal as it provides better connectivity and also enhances the experience of the users of these areas.

1. Newbridge High St
2. Lockbrook Inn
3. Promenade (Bridge)
4. Twerton High Street

5. Twerton Park FC
6. Oakfield Train Station

7. Bath Train Station
8. Victoria Bridge
9. A3604 Bridge

10. Herman Miller Factory
11. Weston Island Eastpoint
12. Weston Island Westpoint
13. Bath Rowing Club

Masterplan Collage

Introducing a series of wayfinding devices to be implemented across Twerton and Newbridge, connecting the communities through a series of key pedestrian points.

Wayfinding devices will be introduced down the river creating a tourist route connecting Bristol & Bath. Weston Island/Art Depot will form a stop on this route.

Pedestrian & cyclist routes from Twerton & riverside are to be improved. Increasing visibility of the island, enhancing pavement width & adding cycle routes along Lower Bristol Rd, Art Depot to maintain railway wall (community mural & greenery)

Introduction of new promenade on island, extending existing vehicular entrance.

The Western and Eastern most segments of the Island are to be re-wilded preservation zones, embracing and enhancing the wildlife already on the island and introducing low level planting. The island will have a 65% green footprint- The island will be self sufficient through it’s energy use & waste management.

Existing hanger must be dealt with in a sustainable way. If they are not to be kept on site a relocating/recycling/upcycling proposal must be put forward as an alternative. This extends to the strategy for new building materials. There must be some form of response to local vernacular or the areas industrial heritage

Docking zone on the Southern edge of the island. River for recreational purposes.

The Art Depot will form a new economic pole for the community, providing local jobs, supporting local artists and an income from tourism. Working with the art college local schools/education centres to encourage engagement with the arts at a public level

Masterplan Views

Individual Responses

Kim

Gina

Kim

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