From floating saunas to urban gardens: Winning designs revealed in competition to reimagine Bristol Harbourside

Bristol BID and Design West announce three winning concepts from more than 50 entries, as part of a wider vision to create a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient city centre.

From a floating sauna overlooking St Mary Redcliffe to a new waterside garden and greener walking routes, three imaginative designs have been selected to help inspire the future of Bristol’s Harbourside.

The proposals were chosen from more than 50 entries to Bristol BID and Design West’s Big Green Ideas for Bristol Harbour competition, which challenged designers, students and emerging talent to explore how three underused public spaces could be transformed through greener, more sustainable design.

The winning concept designs were revealed on Wednesday 11th November at the official launch of Bristol BID’s new Green & Blue Vision, held at Creative Youth Network.

Barbara Voto of Buju Architects was selected for Living Tracks, a proposal to reimagine Hanover Place as a greener connection between Brunel’s SS Great Britain and Bristol Marina. Celebrating the area’s industrial past, the design would transform historic railway tracks into planted corridors, introduce sculptural seating inspired by nautical knots and create a sheltered woodland garden for Coffee Club Cafe.

A Living Harbour by Matthew Cox of Studio Zed, takes inspiration from Copenhagen’s waterfront to reimagine The Grove’s underused car park. The proposal would create a vibrant public space with rain gardens, floating wetlands, a community greenhouse and waterside steps. A floating sauna would offer views towards St Mary Redcliffe, while the design also explores the longer-term possibility of a designated open-water swimming area.

The third winning concept, Dylan Brown of Our Field was recognised for Bathurst Lock Garden, a proposal to transform the historic, disused lock at Bathurst Basin into a thriving waterside garden. Drawing on the area’s maritime heritage, the design would create new habitats for wildlife and improve flood resilience through a tidal water garden, alongside a new pedestrian footbridge and sustainably constructed community hub overlooking the basin.

The winning entries were selected by a panel of experts from Bristol BID, Design West, Bristol City Council, MOOWD and Landsmith Associates, with designs assessed on their response to place, impact on biodiversity and climate resilience, clarity and innovation. Each winner received a £500 Love Bristol Gift Card.

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Pippa Goldfinger, Head of Design at Design West, said:

"The quality and creativity of the entries has been fantastic. We received more than 50 submissions, each bringing a different perspective on how Bristol's Harbourside could be improved, and it's been particularly encouraging to see such strong ideas coming from emerging designers and students at universities across Bristol and the wider region. "What really stood out was how thoughtfully people approached these spaces, finding ways to celebrate their unique character and heritage while introducing more nature, biodiversity and opportunities for people to enjoy them. It's a brilliant demonstration of the design talent we have in this region and the role it can play in shaping the future of our city."+

The competition forms part of Bristol BID’s wider Green & Blue Vision, developed with placemaking and landscape specialists MOOWD, which sets out ten ideas for transforming public spaces across central Bristol. From new habitats in Queen Square to a floating ecosystem at Temple Quay and greener streets throughout the city centre, the Vision explores how green and blue infrastructure could improve biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and create more attractive places for people to spend time.

Shaped through consultation with businesses, partners and stakeholders, the Vision aims to spark discussion, attract investment and encourage collaboration. Bristol BID has committed £500,000 over the next five years to support green and blue infrastructure projects across the city centre.

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Tom Swithinbank, Senior Project Manager at Bristol BID, said:

"These winning designs show just how much potential there is to rethink some of Bristol's overlooked public spaces. What's exciting is that they're not simply about making places look greener, but about creating spaces that work better for people, nature and the city as a whole. "Our Green & Blue Vision is about raising our ambitions for Bristol and finding ways to make meaningful improvements to the city centre. We've committed £500,000 over the next five years, but realising the full potential of these ideas will take collaboration, further investment and a shared commitment to change. This competition is a great example of how we can bring fresh thinking into that conversation and start building momentum for the future."

The winning concepts, alongside shortlisted entries, will be showcased through Bristol BID’s Green & Blue Vision and shared with Bristol City Council and other stakeholders to inform future discussions about improving the Harbourside. While the designs are conceptual rather than confirmed projects, they offer a starting point for exploring new possibilities and building the case for future investment.

For more information about Bristol BID’s Green & Blue Vision, head to: https://www.bristolbid.co.uk/projects/green-blue-vision/