Design competition to transform BRI facade

13 March 2013

Willis Newson is managing an international design competition that will transform the façade of the Bristol Royal Infirmary. The building was once voted one of the ‘ugliest’ in Bristol and Robert Woolley, chief executive of UH Bristol said ‘We have long recognised that the appearance of the BRI is not one that reflected the quality of care we give.”

Six architects and artists have submitted designs, which have been on display to the public in an exhibition at the hospital. Submissions have been made by architects Nieto Sobejano, SO-IL and Tham and Videgard and artists Daniel Buren, Luke Jerram and Antoni Malinowski.  A final shortlist of no more than three will be agreed by an arts steering group formed of key stakeholders and a final decision is expected in July 2013.  In the meantime Bristolians have been voting on their favourite design in an online poll devised by the local Bristol Evening Post.

The image on the front page shows one of the submitted designs from New York-based architects, SO - IL. Other designs can be viewed through this article on the BBC website.