The River Thames has over 200 bridge crossings, which serves a London metropolitan population of 8.5 million. To add to these 200 bridges, London has planned a new bridge crossing over the Thames between Nine Elms and Pimlico near the Battersea Power Station.
London plans to build a new bridge crossing the Thames and is calling on designers to submit their ideas for the London Bridge Design-Off. In the world of architectural and engineering design, competitions aren’t uncommon. In fact, architectural design competitions have been around for over 2,500 years! Toronto City Hall, The Sydney Opera House, and the Chicago Tribune Tower are all the results of design competitions. Many bridges featured in London are, similarly, the result of competitions held over the many hundreds of years that bridges have existed in the city.
The History Behind Bridges on the River Thames
London Bridge is probably the most famous of all bridges in London and one that students in CAD colleges would no doubt appreciate for its innovative design and fascinating history. Although the design for today’s London Bridge is very minimalist, until the late 19th century the landmark was a chaotic scene of houses and cars. Old London Bridge, built in 1284, was not only a pathway for merchants and pedestrians but also held over 200 buildings! This fire hazard (and indeed there were fires) lasted for 600 years, until a call for new bridge designs was sent out in 1799, and answered by civil engineer John Rennie. The newest model of London Bridge was constructed in 1973.
While London Bridge is certainly not the only river crossing to undergo serious changes throughout the city’s history, some older bridges have surprisingly managed to stay intact throughout the years. Richmond Bridge is the oldest surviving and functional bridge in London, built in the late 18th century.
The Competition
In order to offset pedestrian congestion, the city of London is holding an open design competition for a new centrally located bridge. It is said that the bridge will carry 9,000 pedestrian and cyclists every day, and cost 40,000 British pounds (approx. $72,500 CAD). What the jury is looking for is an “inspiring landmark design”, which must be elegant, functional and of course high quality. Jurors are looking for an architectural design that speaks to local Londoners and distinctly represents London.
Modern Bridge Designs and Competitions
The call for a new pedestrian bridge comes at the same time that ThomasHeatherwick’s Garden Bridge design was approved by the city of London. The bridge is intended to be an exclusively pedestrian walkway, covered in gardens and trees, and designed to enhance the quality of life in London. Many Londoners are already criticizing the project’s budget of 1.75 million pounds, although construction will only get underway next year.
One of the newest bridges in London, Millennium Bridge, was the result of a design competition open to students taking architectural CAD courses and professional architects alike. The pedestrian suspension bridge is now a landmark in London, and was even featured in the sixth Harry Potter film!
Winnipeg, Canada holds its own annual architectural competition every year, where architects from all over the world are invited to submit “Warming Hut” designs for the city’s skating river trail. This year, winners hail from Montreal, Toronto, and even Finland!
What type of structures do you think would be most exciting to design for a competition?
