The Bristol & West Building
The Bristol & West Building Society's new headquarters on Broad Quay was the tallest building in the city when it opened in 1968.
The tower along with a new dock planned for Avonmouth, a new Severn Bridge and city centre reconstruction was a symbol of Bristol's post war boom status.
Bristol Civic Society hailed this 17-storey towerblock, clad in granite-chipped pre-cast concrete, as one of the 'most pleasing tall buildings' in Bristol. But tastes changed and by 1980 the tower was considered one of the ugliest.
It was nearly demolished in 2003, but a motion put forward by the council's central planning committee to knock it down was defeated by just one vote.
It was transformed into a 176-bed luxury spa hotel in 2006 and the structure was re-clad with 1350 blue glass panels. It re-opened in October 2009.
The tower along with a new dock planned for Avonmouth, a new Severn Bridge and city centre reconstruction was a symbol of Bristol's post war boom status.
Bristol Civic Society hailed this 17-storey towerblock, clad in granite-chipped pre-cast concrete, as one of the 'most pleasing tall buildings' in Bristol. But tastes changed and by 1980 the tower was considered one of the ugliest.
It was nearly demolished in 2003, but a motion put forward by the council's central planning committee to knock it down was defeated by just one vote.
It was transformed into a 176-bed luxury spa hotel in 2006 and the structure was re-clad with 1350 blue glass panels. It re-opened in October 2009.