Bristol, Redcliff Street, Redcliff Street Development, Office Block

Building Notes

1 Redcliff Street is a 15-storey office block in Bristol. It was commissioned by E S & A Robinson (Holdings) Ltd as their new headquarters. John E Collins, Robinsons' Head Architect, designed the building, with Sir Basil Spence acting as Consultant. The building was completed in 1964.

Aside from the main block there is a conference hall raised on eight reinforced concrete pillars and connected to the main building by a bridge. The building's concrete frame is clad with marble-aggregate panels and features aluminium window frames. The arched window heads are intended to reflect traditional Bristol architecture.

1 Redcliff Street is significant in that it was Bristol's first high-rise building and was the first modern structure to break the city’s unofficial 100-feet height limit.

Archive Details

The Basil Spence Archive contains one manuscript folder relating to 1 Redcliff Street. The material illustrates Spence’s consultancy role and the development of the project more broadly. It shows that Spence was initially approached in 1961 when the in-house plans were largely complete, to offer his opinion on the development. Spence strongly endorsed the scheme and seems to have been instrumental in its approval. He was also quoted in subsequent press releases. Later correspondence shows that Spence was consulted again, when alterations to the original design were being considered. His proposal that a water feature be created at ground level was ultimately rejected.

Archive Summary

The manuscript folder relating to 1 Redcliff Street contains correspondence, press material and details of the proposed development. There is also photographic material relating to the site prior to development, views of the proposed building and some architectural details.

This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.