More bridges, (passerelle division).
Stephen Bayley of The Observer writes here about the love affair architects have with pedestrian bridges:
Nicely combining art and engineering, bridge design belongs to both architecture and engineering (although at the Millennium Bridge the sculptor Anthony Caro got a credit too). But in recent years, architects have become ever more interested in them, even usurping the engineers with the bylines. There was a time when every architect wanted to design a chair (whose structural duties make them similar to bridges). But now, evidence of the organically enlarging egos of topline architects, only a bridge will do.
And he gives some examples from around the British Isles, like the new Temple Quay bridge in Bristol, just being finished:
Temple Quay
The “Living Bridge” at the University of Limerick:
Living Bridge across the River Shannon
And a bridge in Castleford in West Yorkshire – the starting point for an urban regeneration program:
Castleford Bridge
I admit to having a bit of a pedestrian (and bike) bridge fetish also. Here’s some favourites that I’ve bookmarked:
Westzaan Holland – http://www.flickr.com/photos/martindelusenet/2160320480/sizes/o/
Zubizuri Bridge in Bilbao, Spain – http://www.flickr.com/photos/heldercotrim/2282169729/sizes/l/
The Gateshead Millenium Bridge – http://www.flickr.com/photos/astroboi/2259014111/sizes/l/
Three Bridges of Borneo/Sporenburg, in Amsterdam – http://www.contemporist.com/2008/02/15/three-bridges-of-borneosporenburg/
Balijbos Bridge in Zoetermeer, Netherlands – http://www.contemporist.com/2008/02/19/balijbos-bridge-in-zoetermeer-netherlands/
There’s also the Esplanade Riel built in Winnipeg a few years ago. It was highly contentious because of the cost of running plumbing for a restaurant in the middle, but it is one of the most photographed locations in the city now.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerdvin/365138492/