Removal of Rainbow Canopy Ordered by Bristol City Council

The Bristol City Council ordered the removal of a family’s rainbow painted awning installed to celebrate LGBTQ+ rights and the NHS. The council cited concerns that the “incongruent” color palette may have an “adverse impact” on the “character and appearance” of the city’s Georgian architecture and conservation areas. 

Concerns about a vivid canopy stealing the spotlight from the muted, albeit heteronormative, beige bricks surrounding it may very well be valid. Rainbows tend to pop more than beige.

That being said, preserving history is a valuable pursuit. But is a rainbow awning so strikingly out of place that it impacts the very character of historic buildings? Or is the scrutiny on bright paint covering up a less aesthetic component of this discomfort?

The rainbow awning’s nod toward an established queer symbol gardened public support in April of last year. Despite having over 100 people in support and 34 in opposition, the retrospective planning application was rejected by the city council in September.

Council members pointed to the canopy’s color scheme as deducting from historic Bristol views, stating, “The introduction of the colorful paintwork to the canopy on this property is not considered to be in keeping with the listed building and fails to preserve it.”

The Aylmer family installed the canopy during a roof repair, making a last-minute call to add a pop of color in their historic neighborhood. Prior to the order of removal, Ken Aylmer told BBC, “everyone loves a rainbow and it resonated with us as a family because my other daughter is an advocate for all things queer, so she liked the reference to the LGBTQ community.” The design was also selected to support the National Health Services following his wife Illona’s treatment and recovery from cancer.

Amidst city council’s decision, Mr. Aylmer stated his hopes for compromise: “As it had such overwhelming support, it is important to people and it follows the thing about heritage evolving and being part of the culture … people also loved it.”