A new multi-purpose ‘destination’ venue that encapsulates the spirit of Stokes Croft.
Client: Portland Brown
Location: Stokes Croft, Bristol
Start on site date: Late 2022
Completion date: Nov 2024
Estimated Construction value: £1.5 million
Floor area: 1,600 sqm
Collaborators:
MEP Engineers: MJD Group
Civil & Structural Engineers: Agnos Studios Ltd
Cost Consultant: Cubix CC
Planning Consultant: Planning Ventures
Stretto Architects were appointed in late 2020 to design a new multi-purpose community-focused hospitality venue in the Conservation Area of Stokes Croft, Bristol. The 1600sqm venue is capable of a maximum capacity of over 1000 people.
The proposals consist of the conversion and restoration of two post-war buildings, a former motorcycle showroom and bicycle shop, into a restaurant, bar, taproom and event space. An internal courtyard accessed from Stokes Croft forms the central spine for the building footprint. Large fenestrations emphasise the connection to the busy, vibrant street, and glimpses of the two new roof terraces aim to draw in customers.
Stretto worked closely with the structural engineer and steelwork fabricators to develop a structural scheme that works with the existing reinforced concrete structure. Bespoke brackets were fabricated to fix new steel beams to existing brick piers and concrete columns. Back-to-back steel PFCs, with thermal breaks to prevent cold bridging, frame the new shopfront glazing and bi-folding doors and windows.
Sustainable features include a roof mounted PV array, retaining and re-using existing building fabric with minimal applied finishes, and low carbon timber structure with lightweight cladding.
“The scheme maintains and celebrates as much of the existing fabric as possible. New interventions are articulated with a distinct architectural language that compliments the industrial aesthetic.”
Sandy Murray, Project Architect, Stretto
