22 news feature CASE STUDY
Oak engineered brushed flooring was researched to provide a product that was bespoke hand fin- ished within the UK in a warm grey wash, both stylish and practical and used in most living areas and some kitchens. All homes include intruder alarms, mains oper-
ated smoke detectors, chrome shaver sockets and downlighters, pendants or lighting tracks. There is voice activated door entry, where applicable, to communal areas. No two layouts are identical. This ensures that
residents feel as though they are living in a unique home rather than a standard apartment. The General also offers large room sizes. When design- ing the scheme the interior design team recognised that no scheme in Bristol had spent time to make communal spaces feel luxurious and special. The team put a lot of thought into plan- ning the ambience, colour scheme and lighting and even made the decision to lay a bespoke car- pet to make the communal areas really special and welcoming. In some of the staircases historic pho- tographs of the hospital are being framed and hung on the walls as a testament to the building’s historic importance. All car and bike parking for the properties is
now hidden in secure underground car parks but presented an additional development challenge. Located 12 metres below ground, on the corner of Commercial Road and Lower Guinea Street, the car park perimeter is also close to the Bathurst Basin and below the water table, demanding par- ticular care and attention. Additional facilities for a stress-free lifestyle
include voice activated door entry, maintained communal areas and an on-site caretaker. At the lower street level are the commercial
properties, which have been included to create an active street frontage, promote investment and to create facilities for the local community as well as residents of The General. The commercial units open onto Lower
Guinea Street, which was identified at the pro- ject’s public consultation stage as a dangerous rat run. City & Country subsequently changed the use of the road to a one-way system, against the existing traffic flow, which has alleviated this issue.
However, City & Country has also submitted a further application to fully pedestrianise the street. This would allow the commercial units to spill out onto the pavement towards the waterside, creating a safe and vibrant community space for both residents and locals. With The General’s Phase 1 fully sold, Phase 2 was launched earlier than anticipated.
Design-led approach City & Country takes an entrepreneurial and design-led approach, anchored by common sense and a feel for the creation of value. The team is adept at spotting opportunities and evaluating them, which allows them to act quickly, decisively and effectively. Simon Vernon-Harcourt the firm’s design and
restoration director, commented on the impor- tance of the project to City & Country and Bristol itself: “It strikes me that what we have done at The General perfectly encompasses the true meaning of ‘sustainability’. What could be more sustainable than the recycling and repair of a cultural icon, built of local material by local folk, thereby preserving its heritage for future generations?” He added: “It is truly rewarding to now see the
roofs, balconies and new Ogee Dome re-emerge at last from the 75-year-old scars of the Blitz. Bristol as a city will at last see this iconic building rise from the ashes and have the opportunity to not only observe from a distance but to play a part in its renaissance. The General is so much more than just a building.” In conclusion City & Country managing
director, Helen Moore explained: “The conversion of The General marks a new era for this striking historic building, from its origins as a city centre hospital to its reinvention into a collection of cosmopolitan waterside apartments. Through the restoration and conversion of the listed buildings, the reinstatement of the internal courtyard and the addition of eclectic new homes City & Country is delighted to be playing a part in adding a new layer of history to this nationally important heritage asset.”
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