Telescopic bridge set for Copenhagen
High profile design competition comes to a conclusion
From a prestigious selection of ten invited participants, including Zaha Hadid Architects and Henning Larsen Architects, a team of London based Studio Bednarski and Flint &Neill with New York based Hardesty & Hanover and Speirs + Major have been awarded the contract for an opening pedestrian and cycle bridge in Copenhagen.
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"In this entry, urban architecture aspects are rooted in the historical qualities of Copenhagen," said the jury. "Taking its starting point from the Nordic traditions, the entrant sought inspiration in the opportunity to optimise functionality and create a new public space rather than letting the bridge be an exponent of an extravagant staged structural form."
The winning design presented the lowest profile for the 180m bridge which has an opening span of 50m and a 7m wide deck.
"We have deliberately avoided high structural elements, which would interrupt views across and along the harbour, both when the bridge is closed and when it is open. Views of the new Opera House from Knippelsbro, for example, would not be disrupted by our design," commented Cezary Bednarski. The win represents a landmark for Studio Bednarski and Flint & Neill's partnership. "This is our 10th bridge competition victory, and Ian Firth and I won all 5 bridge competitions that we jointly entered."
The winning proposal offered a creative telescopic mechanism and a transparent design which would allow views along and across the Inderhavnen (Inner Harbour). A strong attraction of the bridge will be the horizontal viewing platforms which accommodate people at the edge of the navigation channel, even when the bridge is open, and allow a unique opportunity to view the mechanism in action. Public space is also created at either end of the bridge with landscaped grounds and steps to access the bridge or watch the world go by.
The gently curved underbelly of the bridge has been presented as an artistic opportunity to be either brightly coloured offering a bit of fun for the district, or mirror polished offering beautiful reflections of the water below.
