RIBA主催の国際建築コンペに応募した案です。
英国北部にあるSalford市のIrwell河に新しく建てられる歩行橋のデザインが募集されました。
Manchester近郊の都市として発展が進むSalford市の中心を走るA6道と開発指定地域Meadowsエリアを結ぶ事になるこの橋は、市にとって大変重要なプロジェクトでした。
採用デザインの条件として、2つのエリアを効率的に結ぶシンプルな空間構成を重視しつつ、街の新たなシンボルとして存在感を示せる「アイコニック」なデザインが望まれていました。
今回の提案では、AからB地点を結ぶ単なるツールとしての橋ではなく、「都市の中の彫刻」と「場所（Place）としての橋」をコンセプトに、都市的なパブリックスペースに存在する「橋」の在り方を考え直してみました。
This is a proposal for an international competition to design a new pedestrian bridge for a site in Salford, on River Irwell. The bridge will be connecting the A6 and the Meadows area, which is planned to be part of the large regeneration project for the city.
The brief asked the bridge needs to allow pedestrian users to efficiently/safely navigate through the city but also required the design has an iconic element that could make the site become a new 'gateway' into the Meadows area.
It was important therefore to consider the bridge as not just a tool that connects points A to B - the proposal focuses on the concepts of bridge as an 'Urban sculpture' and a 'memorable place'.
以下のイメージ、文章は提出パネルから抜粋したものです：
The following images and texts are extracted from our submission panels:
The inspiration for the proposal came from the site’s strategic location as a link on the Irwell River Sculpture Trail and the desire to create an extension of this programme by providing Salford with an iconic structure, inspired by sculpture.
The materiality of the bridge is a reference to industrial heritage of the local region. A patinated, dark metal external face addresses the water whilst a delicate yet striking brass internal face envelops the pedestrians. Like the textured landscape, the materials are chosen for their beautiful patination which, over time will bear the marks of the actions of time, weather and people on their surface, developing its own unique identity.
Acting as a link in the UK’s greatest Sculpture Trail, the form of the bridge was conceived as a piece of origami, a continuous ‘ribbon’ which would grow out of the landscape in the Meadows, twisting and folding in increasing heights before forming a dramatic arch on the Crescent.
This arch creates a highly visible landmark in the urban domain and references the historic ‘Victoria Arch’ which stood near the site in the early 1900s.
The bridge is composed from three main components; a simple box beam to act as the walkway, bays to encourage social interaction and rest, and the folded steel ribbon which wraps around the beam to provide structure, shelter and an iconic visual landmark.
A rigid linear route dictates a behavioural pattern in pedestrians - an A to B mentality. We propose to retain the efficiency of the linear form whilst introducing a series of bays to frame views and encourage social activity. Painting, music, performance art or meeting spots, the bays give the bridge its own program and extends it’s value as a social commodity. These bays are strategically orientated to provide attractive views across the Meadows towards Peel Park and back towards Chapel Street.
In a bold gesture, the plan extends deep into The Meadows, which is designed to accommodate the natural desire lines between the key nodes identifi ed in The Crescent Development Framework. This also allows a continuous DDA compliant ramp to be provided with dramatic and unbroken sight lines. A staircase is wrapped in the ribbon to allow for quicker access and a slice in the beam allows for movement through the bridge. However, by identifying the key desire lines across the site, it is anticipated that most people will use the full length of the bridge to negotiate the level changes between the Crescent and the Meadows.
The articulation of the plan and treatment of the surrounding landscape also suggests a future language and strategy for the development of the area as a landscaped meadow to encourage movement across and engagement with, the site.
-lenga910