WILD DESIGNS FOR A SECOND BRIDGE ACROSS THE THAMES
04 Mar 2015
Rainbow waterfalls, fairy lights and pink loop-the-loops feature among proposals for a new bridge across London's River Thames.
A diverse assortment of designs has been unveiled for a new bridge spanning London’s River Thames, with some of the proposals sporting rainbow waterfalls, fairy lights, lattice sails and pink loop-the-loops. This marks the second bridge proposed for the Thames in recent years, alongside the now-approved Garden Bridge designed by Thomas Heatherwick.
"We challenged the world's designers to come up with creative solutions to a very complex set of design, engineering and transport challenges," said Wandsworth Council leader Ravi Govindia. "To succeed, this bridge must be two things at once. It must be a beautiful piece of architecture and a valuable new transport link."
Many of the concepts show snaking and spiralling ramps to allow accessible ascent and descent from the bridge. Red bicycle paths modelled to look like a racing track are included in one design, while another features looping sides lit by pink spotlights. Irregularly shaped latticework appears to engulf one design in luminescent flames.
A jury panel including architects, engineers and council leaders will recommend a shortlist of up to four designs, which will be developed into more detailed proposals.
The bridge is expected to cost $80 million and carry approximately 9,000 pedestrians and 9,000 cyclists daily. The 74 entries to the Nine Elms competition have gone on public display and can be viewed online here.
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