Sandwiched between the Upper Bristol Road and the River Avon, Riverview Court is a post-industrial site in the City of Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lying within Bath’s core conservation area; with the adjoining Grade II listed Victoria Bridge and the sensitive ecology of the river; the site presented an exciting – if tricky – series of design challenges to unlock its potential.
Bath & North East Somerset Council envisaged the site as an important node to activate the historic bridge. Rather than doing this through a simple opening-up of the space, our design process focused on an intelligent public realm that enhanced the setting and improved pedestrian and cycle connections.
Working with architects Nash Partnership, the built form proposed a residential led mixed-use pair of buildings with a riverside café. We drew out the landscape to engage meaningfully with the river, as well as linking directly to the Upper Bristol Road and extending the space around the Victoria Bridge to give it valuable breathing space.
Our designs for the river frontage focused on high-quality, warm toned sandstone paving and curving seat-benches to complement the surrounding Bath stone. These catch the sun-filled south-facing aspect and provide informal points to pause and look out across the river, both for new residents and passers-by. Semi-mature tree planting of oaks and amelanchier have provided soft, vertical structure to the riverside; with vertical stands of grasses, sedges, starry alliums, and flowering perennials bring seasonal texture, colour and nectar for pollinators.
The designs enabled us to gain the Council’s confidence and promote our client’s aim for high-density city centre residences, alongside a striking and biodiverse new piece of public realm leading onto other commissions along the Bath ‘River Line’. We hope this sun-filled pocket next to Victoria Bridge will continue to serve as a catalyst for the regeneration of the northern riverside in Bath.
Client: Watkin Jones Group
Architects: Nash Partnership
Landscape Budget: Confidential
Status: Completed in 2020
“A dynamic design that makes imaginative use of a tight space, greatly improves access and enjoyment alongside enhancing historic features.”
Society of Landscape & Garden Design Judges
