Pedestrian walkway at BRI given makeover
The Marlborough Steps have been painted by a Bristol artist to make them more inviting
An artist has come together with the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and business leaders in the centre of Bristol, to brighten up a pedestrian walkway.
The Marlborough Hill Steps - which are in between two hospital buildings on the road towards the Bear Pit - have been painted to look like a garden.
It's hoped the change will encourage people to use the steps more often.
Vicky Lee is head of the Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) which helped on the work.
“We are always looking for ways that we can re-energise the Bristol City Centre BID area, to make the city look and feel more welcoming," she said.
"Following discussions with the team at UHBW, we identified the Marlborough Hill Steps as a location that had received little attention and needed regeneration.
"We wanted to do it in a way that reflects the colour and spirit of the city, with bespoke artwork to make the area more attractive for those visiting or walking past the hospital buildings.”
Bristol City Centre BID in partnership with University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), have coordinated and funded the renovation.
Bristol-based artist Farrah Fortnam, whose art is inspired by the natural world and the planet’s eco-system, was commissioned to design brightly coloured murals that echo a nature and woodland scene and made the route between the buildings more attractive.
Local gardener, Fiona Mackenzie, who works with Bristol City Centre BID for planters across the city centre, was also brought in to design simple yet attractive planting to the bare tree pits.
Frances Macadam is head of the arts programme at the hospital trust.
“Marlborough Hill Steps walkway has a very high footfall of people walking through the city centre and visiting the hospital buildings that lie either side of it.
"We are grateful to Bristol City Centre BID for leading the transformation of this area, we hope it raises the spirits of our staff and brings some joy to all that walk through it.”
