BRISTOL
TEMPLE
MEADS
A NEW CHAPTER
FOR BRUNEL'S
HISTORIC STATION
Welcome to Bristol Temple Meads train station, the busiest station in the south-west.
The site was historically wet meadow-land
(mæd/mead) owned by Temple Church. It would have been periodically flooded by the Avon and therefore sits just beyond the medieval city walls and Temple Gate; the old medieval entrance (removed 1808). Brunel was not allowed to build his rail terminal within the city walls so the GWR was taken to Temple Meads which has since become the home of oldest rail terminal in the world. Sadly the site is now poorly utilised and features large swathes of unused land and car parking which prohibit the creation of place and disconnect Bristol with its station. Use THE SLIDER on the right to see a before and after aerial of the site.
A report was conducted into the history, connectivity,
current state and future developments to determine
what features must stay, be enhanced or be created.
REPORT
A report into the development of the Temple Meads Station and surrounding areas. The document highlights key points including historical events, hydrological issues and levels. The whole document can be seen below with the inclusion of a 'personal response' — an artistic development and response to the site. The image below was a quick design idea of a potential redevelopment using the report as a starting point. The finished masterplan retains a few elements but has been greatly modified. The report can be seen below.
Early design based on information in report
Digital PDF of report hosted on Issuu.com
BRIEF
We had to develop a conceptual vision of what we wished to achieve. Why would people use our site?
MY PLAN
To build on Bristols momentum as a green city and really kick-start the sustainable-city revolution. I want to connect all the separate green entities and initiatives within Bristol and give them unity under the “The Bristol Movement” brand. This makes them stronger and collates them under one idea: the sustainable city. The plan includes reducing car dominance with the station and connect passengers with the city centre. Reduce energy dominance by using all types of energy recuperation. Collect rainwater and re-introduce the wet meadland. Reconnect passengers with the river and nature. Introduce small, sustainable businesses in, around and underneath the station. The Bristol Movement is much bigger than Temple Meads,
but the area will become the home of the initiative. It will respectively bring in new ideas and green companies.
Ovo headquarters, a leading green energy company, already operates next door to the site. In time 'The Bristol Movement' may become a common phrase for a holistic approach to environmentally friendly city design. Initially the project will need to be guided and supported by the council and a trust. The trust will help run Temple Meads site independently of Network Rail who run the station. The new trust will help increase public life within the site; keeping rents low, encouraging green activities and organising performances etc. It will be a subsidiary of the Bristol Council and profit will be re-invested within Bristol or the site itself. To give the area a sense of prominance and place the new logo (TM) will sit above events, initiatives or advertisements. It will, in effect, brand everything that is going on around Temple Meads.
This stage highlights the core principles on the project and how the access routes interact with the design.
D&A
IMPROVE STATION ACCESS
Remove all car access ramps and use the existing archway space beneath the station as retail spaces. The station has now become a retail developer with buildings and land it essentially already owned. These spaces now produce income for the station. For a detailed explanation see the D&A document below.
COLLECT & SLOW RUN–OFF
All of the station roofs collect water and store it in on-platform bio-tanks. Transparent tanks with plants that create features on the platform and slow the release of rain water. It then moves to huge under platform (vault) tanks.
The water gets released at an average of 1.5l every 2 seconds. This will be bolstered by recirculating the water through the woodland.
INTRODUCE A NEW CITY PARK
The site has the potential to decrease the flood risk to Bristol by storing excess run-off and acting as floodable land if the Avon rises. It has the potential to become a vibrant and naturalistic city park whilst creating a variety of habitats which are vital for biodiversity.
D&A PDF
DESIGN & ACCESS DOCUMENT
Highlighting the core design principles, access routes, building zones, wasted areas etc.
This document explains and highlights key issues within the masterplan shown below.
MASTERPLAN
A large-scale masterplan of the Temple Meads area, including a new road layout, new buildings and a new regenerated parkland.
CLICK FOR LARGE VERSION
CLICK FOR LARGE VERSION
< Inside Temple Meads station courtyard
The new route to
Brunels' old entrance >
DETAILING
A smaller redesign of the masterplan. This focuses on the area just outside of the main entrance where the current transport ramp exists.
All drawings were A1 so click on the drawings for larger versions.
GA PLAN
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS & CROSS-SECTION
PLANTING PLAN
VISUALISATIONS
