A theatre and performance venue proposed for the abandoned Bristol Harbour Railway on Spike Island. The project repurposes existing rail infrastructure into a cultural hub, a three-part structure housing a main theatre, performer accommodation, and a set storage hall, designed as a living, breathing cultural catalyst for the waterfront.
Repurpose the abandoned Bristol Harbour Railway on Spike Island into a vibrant cultural and performance venue. The project required detailed site analysis, environmental study, programme development, and iterative design exploration to create a building that honours the industrial heritage of the site while introducing new cultural life to the waterfront.
Conducted thorough site analysis of the Bristol Harbour Railway covering access, amenities, water, greenery, temperature, and wind.
Developed a three-part programme: main theatre, performer accommodation, and set storage hall, connected along the existing rail tracks.
Drew on architectural precedents including Teatro Oficina, The High Line, The Gasometer, and Village Underground to inform the adaptive reuse strategy.
Produced adjacency maps and programme schedules to resolve the spatial relationships between performers, visitors, and staff.
Iterated from a tunnel-inspired concept through to a cuboidal three-volume scheme, refining proportions and flow across two design iterations.
Referenced Paddington Station and St Pancras International as structural precedents for the arch-based structural system.