News / Arts
Bristol Arena shortlisted designs revealed
These are the shortlisted designs for the £90 million Bristol Arena, which if all goes to plan will open towards the end of 2017.
The five projects for the 12,000-capacity venue range from what looks like a glowing soap dish to a less elaborate version of Beijing’s ‘bird’s nest’ stadium.
Entries are from firms with portfolios including London’s Olympic Stadium and the Eden Project in Cornwall. However, competition organisers the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) are keeping tight-lipped about who designed what.
The public can comment on the proposals, but the winning design will be chosen in March by a panel made up of mayor George Ferguson, representatives from Bristol City Council and RIBA, an experienced music and performing arts promoter, and a leading structural engineer with experience of arena and stadium engineering.
Ferguson, an architect by trade and former RIBA president, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to design a great performance venue for the city region that also boosts the regeneration of the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone.
“The successful design must above all function well, whilst inspiring audiences and offering a great experience for artists. The new arena must also work effectively and flexibly whilst being deliverable and affordable.”
RIBA’s Lynne Sullivan added: “The judging panel are looking forward to evaluating the shortlisted teams’ work and having sight of creative vision applied to the arena brief for this underused part of Bristol city centre.”
A truck displaying the designs will be at the following locations:
- Thursday, January 29 – Portwall Lane
- Friday, January 30 – Sainsbury’s, Castle Court, Brislington
- Saturday, January 31 – Broadmead
From Tuesday February 3-11, the designs will be on display at the M Shed.
The design proposals are also online and you can give your comments at www.bristoltemplequarter.com/arenadesign.