Features / Architecture
Is ‘thoughtful regeneration’ the future of Bristol’s skyline?
One of Bristol’s leading architects believes “thoughtful regeneration” is the vision for our city’s future.
BDP has spearheaded projects like the University of Bristol’s new dental school (pictured above) and a new student village at UWE.
The studio’s head of architecture, Akshay Khera, says that at the forefront of every project is the need for good design.
is needed now More than ever
“Old buildings are the ground for new beginnings,” Khera told Bristol24/7.
“To have a good solution, you have to have a good design. Otherwise at some level, something will not work.
“You have to be careful, how our city is evolving and how it is regenerating because the impact will be for the next generation.”
Khera said that “keeping the users in mind at the end of the day, is what makes or breaks a project, because they are the ones who are in there using it on a daily basis”.
Akshay Khera is head of architecture at BDP’s Bristol studio – photo: BDP
Referring to the University of Bristol’s new dental school on Avon Street, Khera said: “In the late 90s, who would have thought that 25 years later, a building that had rows of desks for offices would be converted into rows of dental chairs?”
The Bristol Dental School is now located in a former office block – photo: University of Bristol / Nick Smith Photography
BDP is also responsible for the upcoming Gap House, an urban housing plan to be built on a disused garage plot on Bell Close in Horfield owned by Bristol City Council, which Khera said he initially worked on “as a thought piece”.
“It wasn’t a project, we just said that there’s derelict land which is not being used, and there is a housing shortage and how can you apply creativity to come up with solutions.
“It has now become a project that is being built.”
BDP’s Gap House project will see a row of nine affordable, one-bedroom, two-storey homes constructed using modular techniques – image: BDP
A new development on Midland Road in St Phillip’s will consist of 100 per cent affordable homes that are also energy efficient – image: BDP
BDP recently won the competition to design new housing on Midland Road in St Phillip’s.
This will be a 100 per cent affordable housing that will consist of 70 energy efficient homes.
Khera says that the best ideas within the studio can come from anybody as part of design reviews.
“We’ll pin things up on the wall, the studio will be invited, whoever is free will come and sit and give kind of their opinion, their thoughts because at the end of the day it’s all about ideas, and ideas can come from anybody.”
Khera also believes that the upcoming generation of architects have more “fun” ways of doing things than his own generation did.
Back in the day, Khera recalled, “you were hoping that your sweat doesn’t drop on your board as you’re drawing”.
Main image: Nick Smith / University of Bristol
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