The Vision for Place is a rich document that asks:
The Vision for Place is a rich document that asks:
- Why here?
- Why now?
- Why us?
It draws on the idea of ‘placemaking’ — a process of shaping places that inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces and buildings as the heart of their community.
What makes Bristol, Bristol?
When we asked the public for feedback on the 2023 BTQ Development Framework, a lot of people said the principles within it were too general and did not reflect Bristol enough.
To make sure the Vision for Place put Bristol at the centre, we asked local people, community groups and stakeholders to help us define what makes Bristol, Bristol, and how this spirit can be reflected at BTQ.
Using this public feedback, the Vision for Place sets out Bristol’s key characteristics. These are:
1. Diverse Culture
We celebrate our people and their cultural heritage, making space for voices from all corners of the world to find their home.
2. Independent Thinking
We make our voices loud and clear, inspiring change. Independent thinkers and passionate doers — we’re proud to stand up for what we believe in.
3. Creative Spirit
We’re original, radical thinkers. With a positive and practical spirit, we test and try new ideas, making this a fertile place for innovation.
4. Historic Fabric
We want to engage meaningfully with history through our building fabric and public spaces.
5. Natural Beauty
We see an opportunity to enhance the blue, the green, and the lush, making Bristol Temple Quarter a haven for all lives.
Bristol Temple Quarter will be…
Building on this community feedback and the five characteristics that make Bristol, the Vision for Place outlines a series of placemaking commitments that Bristol Temple Quarter will:
- Be Welcoming, Accessible & Just
- Embrace Heritage, Adaptation & Evolution
- Focus on Creating and Supporting Thriving Communities
- Enable Meaningful Connections
- Provide Affordable Housing
- Be a Resilient & Flexible Development
- Be Hospitable Towards Local Communities
- Prioritise People & Planet
- Earn People’s Trust & Hearts
- Be True to Bristol
Finally, the Vision for Place sets out five Guiding Principles that will guide change at BTQ. These principles have been adapted from the 2023 Development Framework to make less generic and more focused on Bristol and the West of England.
Integrated & Connected
Sustainable and low-impact mobility that gets people together and around easily.
Brilliant Buildings
Future-proofed buildings with a distinct character, a diverse cultural identity and a strong heritage.
Inclusive Economic Growth
Productivity-driven growth with fair distribution of economic contributions and benefits.
Quality Open Spaces
Dynamic public spaces that blend culture and nature into the fabric of the city.
Vibrant & Creative Communities
Community potential enabled through inclusive and meaningful spaces to live, work, learn and play.
Our Vision Compass
Circular diagram illustrating Bristol’s unique spirits and five guiding principles.
Practical ways to create a place
We want the Vision for Place to be a practical document for the BTQ team, developers, and communities to use and refer back to as change happens at Temple Quarter.
Inside the Vision, we have included numerous case studies and examples of great placemaking from across the world, as well as ways that our guiding principles and Bristol’s spirit can be applied to Temple Quarter to create a great place.
Read more about our approach to placemaking at Bristol Temple Quarter.
