Ground Force represents the latest evolution of a long-standing personal mission: to build places that inspire awe, curiosity, and participation, while demonstrating what can be achieved through engineering skill, persistence, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking.
A builder of experiences, not just structures
Johnny Palmer's work is defined less by traditional property development and more by place-making through engineering. His projects are designed to be inhabited, explored, and remembered, not simply viewed. Rather than focusing on finish or fashion alone, he emphasises:
- Structural logic and load paths
- Honest use of materials
- Visibility of engineering systems
- Reuse and second-life construction
- Spaces that provoke emotional response
This approach has led to environments that feel simultaneously industrial, playful, and highly considered: spaces that appeal to engineers, creatives, and the general public alike.
Aviation as architecture
One of the defining aspects of Palmer's work is his use of retired aircraft as architectural elements. Before Ground Force, he installed a Boeing 727 aircraft at Skyline Park (now known as PYTCHAir), an undertaking that required navigating planning processes, structural engineering challenges, and complex logistics. Originally a private project rather than a commercial venture, it became a working example of how large aviation assets could be repurposed into functional spaces.
That project attracted widespread attention across architecture, aviation, and lifestyle media, highlighting both the technical achievement and the originality of the concept. It also proved there was strong public appetite for experiences rooted in real engineering rather than superficial theming. Ground Force builds directly on that learning, but at a significantly larger and more ambitious scale.
Palmer's past work is varied, spanning multiple industries and fields of engineering, art and activism. It includes:
- Buying the island at Warleigh Weir to make it available for free public swimming
- Founder of live event and media company PYTCH, which he sold in 2024
- Founder of the Aether Sauna chain operating across multiple sites
- Founder and owner of renewable power company SolCell
- Various property investment and development across industrial, office and residential property
Johnny lives in Bristol with his wife, two kids and dog.
A culmination of philosophy and skill
Ground Force is a multi-use development at Skyline Park, Bristol, centred around a suspended Boeing 727 private jet and a multi-storey structure constructed largely from reclaimed shipping containers and steel. The project brings together multiple strands of Palmer's interests:
- Aviation heritage
- Structural engineering
- Upcycling and material reuse
- Hospitality and shared experience
- Community access and amenity
Unlike many statement developments, Ground Force was not designed as a spectacle alone. It is a working environment hosting accommodation, events, wellness experiences, meetings, and public-facing amenities, all within a structure that makes its engineering visible and legible. The scale and complexity led many to assume it would never be completed. Its delivery has since been cited as an example of what can be achieved outside conventional development models when technical knowledge and determination are aligned.
Engineering mindset and hands-on involvement
Palmer is known for his hands-on approach, deeply involved in the technical aspects of his projects, from structural concepts and material selection through to construction sequencing and systems integration. This engineering-led mindset allows ideas to move beyond concept stage and into reality, particularly where unconventional materials or configurations are involved. Rather than hiding complexity, his projects foreground it, using exposed structure, visible welds, and industrial textures as part of the aesthetic language.
A long-term view of place
Across his work, Johnny Palmer consistently takes a long-term perspective. His projects are not conceived as temporary installations or trend-driven spaces, but as places intended to remain relevant and compelling over decades. Ground Force in particular is designed to evolve over time, hosting different uses, communities, and collaborations while retaining its core identity as a celebration of engineering and renewal.
For those encountering Ground Force for the first time, understanding the role of its owner helps explain why the project exists at all. It is the product of a consistent worldview: that extraordinary spaces are still possible, that engineering deserves to be celebrated, and that imagination backed by skill can turn unlikely ideas into enduring reality.
Discover the project Johnny Palmer built.