A guided tour by John Tranter

You can walk around a town for years and enjoy its shapes, spaces and art installations, but not really get under its skin.

We were privileged to visit the Portishead Marina and surroundings with its concept architect, John Tranter, who devoted much of the last ten years of his career to this vast project. His fascinating insights on subjects ranging from lock gates to land levels, colour schemes to hidden garages, street layouts to bridges and pipe work, squares to parks, elegant building lines to architectural enhancement were like the raising of a veil and we saw details we had never noticed before. Most of all we were drawn into the excitement of imagining and creating an interesting and user-friendly quarter where people could enjoy living.

A big thank you to John.

We were blessed with a beautiful morning which enhanced all the views. The walk lasted a little under two hours and at the end there was plenty of opportunity for coffee and lunch.

The 16 walkers all agreed it was an excellent occasion which has added to our enjoyment of the area.

‘I will never look at the lock and Marina in the same way again’ was one much repeated comment.

Really a “grand day out”.  
    
Report by James Foulds
Photos by Jeff Eastmond