In the summer of 2024, Shu Architects participated in the ‘Bristol Housing Festival Design Competition’ organised by Brighter Places, aiming to deliver 100% affordable homes on Midland Road in Old Market, Bristol.

The competition focused on flats and this led us to explore housing density and built form within the Bristol context.

Housing density is a significant topic in local debates, often framed as a choice between building on greenbelt land or creating more high-rise flats. However, we believe low-to-medium-rise housing at medium-to-high-density offers an ideal solution, providing family-friendly living in vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods. We looked to cities like Barcelona, Paris, and Vienna for inspiration, where medium-rise, dense neighbours are the norm.

Bristol has a very rich history of desirable, compact neighbouthoods like Southville and Totterdown, which demonstrates the success of medium-density living. Our design for Midland Road aimed to reflect these principles, focusing on a family-friendly environment with dual-aspect flats, individual front doors, and central courtyard. The design also incorporated spaces for prams, homeworking and ample storage.

The project allowed us to showcase how medium-rise housing can play a vital role in sustainable urban living, creating a balanced, high-quality environment for families in cities like Bristol.

Project Roundup:

Client: Brighter Places

Location: Bristol

Associated Blogs: Housing density and the built form in Bristol