The Watershed has outgrown its buildings, so we are giving it an extension. The ‘backpack’ will provide plenty of space for expansion
Childs Sulzmann have been associated with Watershed for over 20 years. It started as a small initiative when we were invited to convert some redundant space in a Bristol dockside transit shed. It has grown into an internationally recognised centre for cinema and experimental new media, accommodating some of the most innovative minds in the city.
We have worked on all three cinemas at Watershed. One was refurbished, one reconfigured and one created out of nowhere from redundant admin and storage space. Childs Sulzmann re-designed and project managed all three cinemas which were once thought of some of the poorest in Bristol and are now considered some of the best. We also completely redesigned the kitchen area and project managed the refit of a new energy efficient kitchen which doubled productivity and halved the energy costs.
Within the Watershed space, we have created a creative co-working space for Pervasive Media, meeting and conference facilities and a successful café bar within these much-loved listed buildings in the heart of the city conservation area.
The Pervasive Media Studio hosts a brilliant community of over 100 artists, creative companies, technologists and academics exploring experience design and creative technology. It is a collaboration between Watershed, the University of Bristol and the University of West of England.
We have provided a relaxed space that creates an atmosphere of freedom and creativity. The studios are part workshop and part play space and have generated ideas that have gone global from micro robots to talking lamp posts.
The latest project is to extend the existing buildings with a bold intervention that celebrates Watershed’s success and will contribute to its growth for another 20 years.
