Year: 2007WAG personnel: ArchitectsProject description: Bridge Competition

CONCEPT

With five directions of entry, this bridge will get very busy at several times during the day – for example during the school and work time rush hours. We felt that the bridge should feel big enough to cope with its important role as a local network hub – that it should provide an excess of access. It is important that the bridge is fully accessible – not simply in terms of wheelchairs, but also socially and psychologically. It should not be possible for any group of youths to dominate this space, whether intentionally or not. Our proposal is a broad, gently curving landscape platform, springing gently from the pavement level along Redhill St. We would ideally like to perforate the old wall in several places to give access to the broad platform. We would be able to reuse the old stone pieces as ‘ruins’ within the landscaping of the ‘platform’. However, if this proved unacceptable, then the scheme would work with a single point of access from Redhill St.

The large platform is perforated in several places – alternatively, it can be read as a dense network of pathways melded together. The voids between the pathways allow views and shafts of light down to the canal water. Typically, we have benches wrapping protectively around the voids, creating some real social places – allowing groups and individuals to hang out here – whether groups of teenagers or mothers and toddlers – without dominating and controlling the space.As well as providing a uniquely social bridge to occupy above the canal, the view of the bridge from the towpath will be extraordinary – as our model images are starting to suggest.

The dramatic geometry of the timber gridshell structure on the underside of the bridge, will be animated by the reflections of light that come down through the voids and perforations in the platform decking above.The bridge will contain planting, both landscaped into the surface, and incorporated into the voids and benches. We have also tried to evolve a form which allows some dedicated routes for cyclists.

STRUCTURE

This presentation from a team of architects, engineers and landscape designers shows a snapshot of work in development. Initial social design ideas have been developed and tested, and have produced a series of structural and tectonic studies. Initial ideas about casting a combined timber and concrete shell structure (1) were by studies of spider web like tension structures (2) before moving towards the currently favoured prefabricated timber grid-shell structure (3).