COULD Bradford have Britain’s coolest office?

That’s the question being asked as striking plans to transform a city centre building and give it a fresh new look are lodged.

Bradford-based Yeme Architects has created this vision of what West Riding House, Cheapside, could look like if the plans are approved. 

The application says Bradford city centre is “remarkable” for its historic architecture and attractions like City Park, Sunbridgewells, the National Science and Media Museum and the upcoming plans for the former Odeon building.

It adds: “However, the perceptions of the city centre don’t always reinforce this reality and an alternative view of the city centre persists. 

“It can be seen that Bradford’s inherent youthful population, enterprising energy and cultural activity are not generally manifested in the buildings.”

Yeme says it, together with its client  Python Properties, wants to help articulate a vision of Bradford which reflects its status as Britain’s youngest city.

“It is critical that all new interventions on the built environment serve to underscore this and dispel negative perceptions that persist.”

The application says Bradford can “play in the realm between present and future”.

“Artistic playfulness and interventions can really stretch the possibilities of a space, igniting ideas and encouraging alternative perspectives on how we interact with our urban environments,” the application says. It also highlights how new tech-related businesses provide a “unique opportunity” for Bradford’s architecture. 

In a page headed ‘Could Bradford have Britain’s coolest office’, Yeme says that because Bradford has an “abundance of iconic, characterful, historic buildings in the city centre at inexpensive prices” it puts it in a unique position. 

“This proposal seeks to present and visualise the spaces in a striking way to enable tech-related end users to be able to identify with the building,” it adds.

“It also aims to inspire stakeholders, agents and others to recognise and celebrate the opportunity inherent within the buildings of Bradford.

Yeme say that “manifesting the distinctiveness of Bradford is critical in order to reshape the narrative of this great post-industrial city.”

“This proposal is a confident representation of Bradford’s new role in the world and in particular reflecting its youthful population,” the application says.

“That this can be done in such a sensitive setting highlights the ownership of the city by its people. The fact that the pattern effect is vinyl means it can be removed at any stage in the future and the current appearance reinstated. This helps to enable the building to evolve and transition as circumstances develop.”

Si Cunningham, Chair of the Bradford Civic Society, said: “I think it’s pretty bold and adds a touch of much-needed playfulness to the city centre. You can see the building as you arrive into town from Forster Square so it’s the perfect place to make a statement. Yeme are a really exciting architects’ practice and we’re lucky to have them in Bradford.”