‘ALIEN’ POD PLAN SLAMMED
DESIGN DISMAY
BOLD plans for a London Eye-style viewing pod in Bristol have been slammed as “alien” and “overbearing” by city designers.
We The Curious and Arc Global Ltd submitted plans earlier this year for a glass observation cabin anchored in Millennium Square, which would tower above the skyline and slowly orbit from its base to provide panoramic views.
Although there has been overwhelming support from businesses and existing tourist attractions for the Arc, Bristol City Council’s own City Design Group has now submitted a lengthy criticism.
Urban designers there feel its “extreme scale” would look “alien” looming above historic buildings in the centre, calling for it to be relocated.
Their public comment, published last week, read: “The Arc has the potential to be a unique and interesting feature within the city if a far less sensitive location can be found.
“To draw parallels, few would expect to see the scale and form of this proposed development in the background of York Minster, Lincoln Cathedral, or St Paul’s Cathedral. From College Green and Lower College Green, the structure will project over the medieval outline of the cathedral church and above the cloisters and Abbey buildings in an incongruous and uncomplimentary fashion.”
The structure would be 78.7m tall from ground level to its tip, with the pod itself sitting at 67.3m above the city when upright.
If the plans are approved, We The Curious hopes it will be built and ready to open by spring 2024.
Arc founder, award-winning architect Nick Stubbs, told the Post: “Arc’s beautiful mast-like structure will be the perfect complement to Bristol’s harbourside.
“By virtue of its size and elegance, it has the potential to become a genuine landmark.”
He said the proposal has support from some of the city’s leading designers, adding: “There are some wonderful contemporary buildings and structures in Bristol that sit handsomely alongside our heritage assets. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with council officers – including its design team – to bring Arc to Bristol.”
The comments from City Design Group will inform the planning officers’ report on whether or not to recommend the plans for approval, which will in turn shape the final decision.
They said the Arc has “novelty value” but would be “best located away from some of its most sensitive assets”.
Other buildings and locations would be affected by its “alien scale and character”, their comment said, providing an “incongruous intrusion above the lowlying historic roofscapes north of the harbour”.
Designers also felt the planetarium, housed inside the existing giant mirror ball, would be
“robbed of its landmark status” as a result of the Arc’s proximity.
They described the attraction as an “intimidating and noisy ride”.
Historic England has also requested more information about the plans, citing “strong concerns over its impact on the historic environment”.
The planning application argues that the design is “truly unique” and “of exceptional quality”.
Despite the criticism from the council’s design team, enthusiastic comments of support have flooded in from businesses and residents.
Turtle Bay said the Arc would be a “major asset in encouraging a return to normality for the city”, while The Bristol hotel said “having an attraction of this quality and stature to attract people to Bristol can only be a benefit”.
Bristol Aquarium, Bristol Cathedral, Bristol Civic Society, the Arnolfini and No.7 Boat Trips are among the others to throw their weight behind the proposal.
Design West (formerly Bristol Urban Design Forum), which also advises the council on architectural design, said the site chosen “makes sense”.
Its response, shared by Arc, said: “The difference of the structure, its lightness, contrasts to the historic buildings at the heart of the city, mean it could be seen as contributing to rather than detracting from the landscape.”
A decision on the plan was originally scheduled for the end of November, but this appears to have been delayed.