Company’s new harbourside office reflects Bristol’s maritime history - and creates 20 new jobs

Bristol’s maritime history is the theme of a new office for a design and build specialist which wants to help revitalise a ‘forgotten’ part of the city.

Weathered-style Corten steel, burnt timber, rope and metalwork all make prominent features in Paramount’s new South West base in the Welsh Back area. The team took a lead from local architecture for the move, and hope it will invigorate the dock area.

The focal points of the workspace are the boardroom which is hidden behind a slatted door and a bar area which resembles a boat-shaped below a rusted cage structure named the Portcullis in keeping with maritime traditions.

Bristol-based architectural firm AWW was responsible for the creative concept of the building regeneration while the developer and investor was V7.

Gareth Davies, Paramount’s senior designer who masterminded the design, said: “We are privileged to be able to call Bristol’s famous floating harbour the setting for our new office because it’s an area that is steeped in history.

“We’ve gone ‘Back to the Future’ for inspiration to create a hybrid working environment that celebrates the bygone days of the Welsh Back area. A workspace that encourages professional collaboration and helps build team dynamics with a nod to the storied past of Bristol’s dock area was our priority and we’ve worked hard to turn that vision into a reality.”

Taking inspiration from neighbourhoods, it is hoped Paramount’s new workplace will become a thriving community for their teams and industry colleagues alike.

Paramount sales director Kevin Mashford, who will lead the Bristol team, added: “We set out to create Bristol’s most ‘Instagrammable’ office and thanks to our exceptionally talented design and project team I am proud to say we have achieved our goal.”

The new workplace signals the acceleration of Cardiff-headquartered Paramount’s growth and will create up to 20 specialist jobs in the city as it targets £50-million turnover within three years.

Paramount Managing Director Richard Jones, who led a management buyout in 2018, said: “Our brilliant new office represents a substantial investment by Paramount which will ensure company growth continues to gather pace across the South West of England.”

Bristol-based Bafta-nominated natural history film-making company, Offspring Films also now call the Welsh Back building home following a design and fit-out by Paramount.

Paramount, whose turnover currently stands at £33.5million, is already well known across England where it has developed office space for a number of leading companies and have revitalised 360 Bristol - formerly South Plaza - in Bristol city centre.