We teamed with Hawkins Brown in an open ideas competition for the future
design of Network Rails footbridges across the UK. Our entry was selected has
highly commended out of over 120 entries.
The Challenge was to create a flexible design concept that could apply
in a huge variety of settings across the UK; from rural locations, listed
stations and urban cities. Whilst maintaining this flexibility in design for
the environment it was also important to base this design on a standard set of
components that could easily be constructed.
This is where our ‘Kit of parts idea’ shone through our adaptable pods
cantilever from the main vierendeel bridge deck structure – encouraging the
bridge to become more than just a path from A-B, but also tailored for the local
context (ie. A café space, a look out spot, a small library).
The basis of the structure was a dictated by the architecture as the
structure was fully exposed. The stair and lift cores provides the main lateral
support for the bridge while the span deflections and vibrations are minimised
by a lower truss and diaphragm action in the deck. Our structural challenge was to turn this
concept into a standardised kit of parts to reduce costs and promote off-site
construction; which would limit site works and disruption to network rail.
