The Architect
Design West are proud to announce the completion of the first phase of transformation with the opening of ‘The Architect’, a design-led new café-bar & outdoors terrace on Bristol harbourside.
Design West Director Anna Rutherford “For 25 years we’ve brought people together to inspire & involve people in the design of our city. Now we’re opening our doors as we transform our own historic home on the harbour into a new venue for design & placemaking.”
The new space has been designed through collaboration & project managed by Shankari Raj (Shanks) of Nudge Group (AJ 40 under 40 winner 2021), with interior design from film & TV designer Gemma Randall best known for her work on His Dark Materials (BBC) & War of the Worlds (Netflix).
Originally an 18th century sail loft, situated by Pero’s bridge between the YHA & Arnolfini, the renovation project has restored & revealed many of the buildings original features including the charred timber beams.
With a nod to Design West’s rich history of architecture & collaboration, a series of brass tiles on the art deco-inspired bar are etched with the names of influential international & local figures including Sir David Adjaye, the Goldfinger Family, local campaigner Dorothy Brown & Stephen Lawrence who inspired our Shape My City programme.
One Eighty Light were pleased to lend a helping hand, and will be regular visitors to The Architect.
Words & Photography
Design West, James Koch
