Bristol Legible City, Andrew Gibbins and Michael Rawlinson
Bristol Legible City
City ID outline: an innovative approach to communicating cities
'For cities to appear on the map of the 21st century, they will need to focus on how they communicate, and in particular, how they can trade on their differences. Successful cities will be those that efficiently connect people, movement and places; those that are engaging and empowering and those that are welcoming, accessible and easily understood…..'
Andrew Kelly, Head of Bristol Cultural Development Partnership
A Central Organising IdeaBristol Legible City is one of the main priorities of Bristol City Council and its partners over the next ten years. It seeks to integrate a comprehensive programme of transportation, information, identity and arts projects to improve people's understanding, experience and enjoyment of the city. It is a unique connecting concept that takes into account the needs of the user at every step - a tourist trying to find a hotel, someone with a business appointment, a film-goer on their way to the cinema, a cyclist going to the shops, or an occasional harbour ferry user. The current partnership, facilitated by the City Council, encompasses Bristol Cultural Development Partnership, Bristol Harbourside Sponsors Group, Public Arts South West, Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Initiative, the Broadmead Board Ltd, South West Regional Development Agency and Bristol Tourism and Conference Bureau. |
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As a creative and innovative city, Bristol is changing. Major regeneration schemes -Harbourside, Broadmead and Temple Quay - and high profile city centre spaces projects -College Green, Bristol and Queen Square - are encouraging both inward investment and a thriving visitor and leisure industry. Bristol Legible City is to capitalise on Bristol's potential for the benefit of business, transport, culture, tourism and, most importantly, its people. Detail of direction signing system |
Competitive advantage through local distinctiveness
The initiative seeks to establish a long-term competitive advantage through design identity rooted at one level in the aspirations for a safer, more convenient, accessible and cohesive city centre, and at another, in the desire to promote Bristol as a multi-faceted, dynamic city. The approach rejects branding the city on the basis of a particular theme in favour of promoting unique place specific design within the public realm. It builds on the differences that characterise Bristol including the diversity of the city centre, by developing the following themes:
Cohesion and integration
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To improve linkages by undertaking selected environmental improvements and providing signing and information
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To facilitate and add value to joint initiatives between sectors through targeted action that promotes integrated urban regeneration, community participation and empowerment.
Identity
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To promote Bristol as a major visitor destination and assist its market positioning within a regional, national and international context.
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To promote a diverse city centre with a unique physical identity made up of distinctive parts offering consumer choice and vitality.
Collective promotion
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To enable the various interests within Bristol to utilise Bristol Legible City initiative as a component of their visitor management and marketing strategies.
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To facilitate collective, reciprocal marketing to cross sell different, attractions, places and modes of public transport.
Image and identity
Bristol currently lacks a strong visual identity to bind its disparate parts together and distinguish it from competing destinations. Post war development has broken up traditional neighbourhoods and eroded the legibility of the city.
| Low levels of information mean that visitors find the central area difficult to navigate, offering them little in the way of welcome when they arrive at the bus or train station or at one of the city's car parks. The current situation fails to give people comfort or guide them to the wealth of attractions the city has to offer- to the detriment of local retailers, leisure facilities, restaurants and arts venues. The first phase has been developed to link together the diverse parts of the city with a flow of consistently designed information; to provide the city with a clear and positive identity; and to encourage a shift towards public transport. It doesn't mean more signs but less muddle, and the removal of much of the clutter . Components include the most comprehensive pedestrian sign system in the UK including visitor panels and maps, an integrated identity for transport information all linked to a major arts programme. |
Defining a key pedestrian network as a focus for access improvements and public art |
 | Developing a distinctive Bristol voiceThe first phase of the Legible City has been designed by City ID, Icon Media Lab, PSD Associates and the City Council's Visual Technology team to provide a simple yet distinctive voice for Bristol. The typeface -Bristol Transit is designed to look modern and confident. The number of words and icons on each sign is kept to a minimum to avoid information overload and visual clutter. Area information is provided by specially developed 'head up' maps which use three-dimensional images. Panel at College Green 'head up mapping' |
By looking at varying scenarios, the design team was able to imagine who the city's users are, how they navigate, what systems they understand, and what constraints exist. This user-centred technique kept solutions rooted in reality.. Field testing and surveys were used to refine and develop ideas. Funded through an innovative public/private sector partnership the system will be on the streets from January 2001.
Identity for integrated transport
Like many other major cities, Bristol is beset by problems of traffic and pollution, cited as two of the worst aspects of life in the city.. A scoping study is being undertaken by the Legible City design team. Its aims are to:
The study recommends the development of a Strategic Identity Framework to shape the future face of integrated transport in the city and to guide the next generation of projects. Projects are being developed within the Legible City framework or influenced by it: on street digital touch screen information units;. a transport information channel, incorporating a journey planner; a new user interface for the 'Visit Bristol' web site; a co-ordinated set of fold out walking and bus route maps; a street based information service, and measures to enhance Showcase Bus Routes, Park and Ride services and Light Rapid Transit. Walkie talkie pavement test linking different parts of the city |  |
 | An Integrated Arts ProgrammePeople often navigate their way around a city by landmarks, pubs, roundabouts and petrol stations as well as official sites, or sometimes just by the 'feel' of a neighbourhood. Bristol Legible City is starting to integrate artists' and designers' work. The arts programme will facilitate a variety of interventions and collaborative approaches to reveal the often hidden wealth and different interpretations of Bristol's built environment.
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| The project is being interpreted, amplified and critically layered by a range of artists. Fashion Architecture and Taste (FAT) have been commissioned as lead artist with a largely open brief to explore, challenge, question and bring forward ideas for interventions. This collaboration, investigating identity for integrated transport, has involved information and identity designers, product designers, planners, urban designers, transport planners and engineers. Artists Colin Pearce and Ralf Hoyte are collaborating on a launch project for the pedestrian signing system. Based upon lines of pavement text this work promotes a dialogue with the city. Light artist Phil Power has been commissioned to develop Bristol Beacons as a precursor to a lighting strategy. Workplace, a multi-disciplinary arts event showcasing over 100 local artists has received support from the initiative. The integration of public art is helping to create a unique framework for a vibrant and exciting environment. The AT Bristol Underground car park |  |
Building creatively for the long term
The Legible City is adopted corporately and is becoming a catalyst for change in the way services are delivered by the City Council and its partners. The next steps are to build on the foundations laid in the City Centre Strategy, the Bristol Local Transport Plan and the Bristol Local Plan. It requires partnership working, innovative funding mechanisms, political vision and commitment, and creative project management.
