The team of AZPML + DFN has won a competition for the design of the Passerella Ex-Torretta, a new bridge spanning the Ticino River in Bellinzona, Switzerland. The bridge will connect two existing medieval structures, the Torretta tower to the west of the river and medieval arcades on the eastern bank, and will provide a gradual 6% slope to allow for pedestrian and bicycle access.
The bridge design draws inspiration from the “organic geometry of the waves” in the river, employing an undulating sinusoidal structure to retain a respectful and graceful profile.
“Our project aims to respect and enhance the natural beauty of the fluvial context of the Ticino River. Our intention has been not only to minimize the visual impact of the bridge in the natural landscape, but also to create a visual resonance with the meanders and the ripples of the moving water surface of the Ticino River,” said the architects in a press release.
The bridge was shaped through 3 contextual conditions. First, its position between and respect for the two existing medieval structures. Secondly, to place structural supports to minimize the transfer of loads to preexisting structures. And thirdly, for the bridge structure to react to the varying conditions pedestrians will experience as they pass over the river.
The structure is located below the deck at points where enhancement of the connection to the surrounding context is desired, such as in the center of the river, and located above the deck where the environment is more aggressive, when the bridge reaches the canopy height of the trees along the bank.
“The design of the bridge is defined according to the structural behavior as well as the experience of the pedestrians, alternating along its trajectory between an integrative and protective structural section,” explain the architects.
The budget for the project is estimated to reach €4.5 millions. A timetable for construction has not yet been released.
News via AZPML.
Architects
Location
Bellinzona, SwitzerlandAZPML+DFN
Alejandro Zaera-Polo, Maider Llaguno Munitxa, Dario Franchini, Guillermo Fernandez-Abascal, Ivaylo Nachev, Manuel Eijo, Robert Berenguer, Paolo Toldo, Andrea Sanchez, Xiani WangClient
Dipartimento del Territorio - BellinzonaBudget
€ 4.5 millionConsultants
AR&PA Engineering + Pianifica IngegneriPhotographs
Courtesy of AZPMLArchitects
