The Distillery, Glassfields

During the 1970s, this central Bristol site was cleared to make way for the Guardian Royal Exchange office, demolished in 2010.

Plot 2, occupying 0.32 hectares within the overall 1.3 hectare development, hosts the first phase of the masterplan, a 90,000sqft commercial office development. Now named ‘The Distillery’, Plot 2 references the site’s heritage as home to the Bristol Distillery Company from 1880 until 1940.

The focus is on creating the best workplace for people to flourish.

This fully flexible design blurs the edges of inside and outside, with people able to move freely through the spaces.

The buildings are not a regular shape: they are set at angles to allow for visual and physical connectivity. Allowing people to see further entices them through the site.

Instead of a traditional essential core, we have created a central vibrant heart space.

The theme is connection and connectivity, encouraging interaction and cross-pollination of ideas and relationships across the floors, with the link bridge designed to connect people physically and metaphorically.

The Distillery has been designed to be extremely flexible in use, with floorplates intended for occupation by one or two tenants and the building to be single let or in multi-tenant occupation.

The Distillery is targeting BREEAM Excellent, EPC A and Fitwel accreditation. The building’s ability to address occupier wellness, health and wellbeing has been key throughout the design process.

This design champions the improvement of occupant wellbeing, employee performance, retention and recruitment.

There are three key themes.

Connect: there are many different opportunities for people to interact, crossover and collaborate such as on the central feature staircase, link bridges, and in the amenity spaces.

Dynamic: the site encourages users to flow through and around the buildings both vertically and horizontally.

Vibrant: the uniform street front facades offer a contrast to the internal heart with its multisensory full height green wall, copper clad reception and circulation area. This covered outdoor space encourages people to take a breath of fresh air and relax.

The intent is to put the control of the environment into the hands of the occupiers. The occupants can choose to open windows and enjoy natural free cooling. The design maximises views out and offers a range of work settings: quiet, collaborative and flexible.

The external Street is both a link space and a covered area to work, meet and relax: a garden for all building users. Additional key Fitwel criteria include excellent cycle and shower provision and highly visible stairs to encourage occupants to walk.

The Distillery is part of the main Glassfields masterplan. AWW is also designing and delivering the Leonardo's Hotel on Plot 4, including the creation of bespoke interior design.