| Architect |
Alec French
& Partners |
| Date
Built |
Completed
1959 |
| Location |
High Street
& St. Nicholas Street |
| Description |
|
| This building
was once home to the Commercial Union
Group. The Pevsner Guide for Bristol
explains how the area around High Street was
badly damaged in 1940. Andrew Foyle,
the author of that guide, explained to me
that this was, prior to the bombing in 1940,
the site of "a fine Victorian
shop." If you click on
the link below you can see the shop in an
old photograph. It is the second
building on left of the image. Despite its appearance, (and comments that you will see below suggesting that this is a 1930s art deco building) Andrew Foyle points out that, "... it is entirely of 1959 and not a restoration of a 1930s building" adding that, "The date of the building is on a plaque by the entrance at street level." The Aviva heritage website says that when the Commercial Union moved into its new premises they had 150 members of staff. "Branch manager, Mr Holley, proudly told reporters that the rest room in the typing pool was 'almost a miniature bedsitter'. The building also included a roof terrace with views across the city."  In more recent times
the present owners "The Office Group"
commissioned the architectural practice
of dMFK to "...
bring out the features in this 1930s
Art-Deco building" and
they add that they are, "... proud
to be one of the greenest buildings
in Bristol with a host of
environmental features."
dMFK say of the
project that, "The robust 1930's
stripped back art deco building is a
perfect backdrop for this stylish
serviced office provider with hefty
sustainability requirements. ...
Sustainability features include a
roof garden, solar hot water,
rainwater harvesting, water
conservation ..., wind turbine ...,
sensor lighting ..., low energy
lighting, recycling on each floor
.... and the use of recycled
materials ..."
|
|
|
St.
Nicholas House, Bristol, UK
 |
