26 Feb 2009
Winner Announced for River Soar Foot and Cycle Bridge Competition

Explorations Architecture with Buro Happold has been announced as winners of the competition to design a new foot and cycle bridge crossing the River Soar in Leicester.



The project vision sought to stimulate the regeneration of the Abbey Meadows area of the city and to connect the proposed Leicester Science Park and the adjacent National Space Centre, with the residential development to be carried out at Wolsey Island on the opposite bank of the River Soar. The competition was promoted by Leicester Regeneration Company and Leicester City Council.

The winning team fought off strong competition from Allies and Morrison with Price and Myers; Knight Architects with Gifford and Partners; Moxon Architects with Arup; McDowell + Benedetti with Arup and Ramboll Whitbybird.

Jim Eyre, Wilkinson Eyre and RIBA Adviser for the competition commented “The winning design displays both imagination and economy of needs, using only the necessary materials combined in an intelligent, elegant and purposeful way. An eloquent appreciation of the setting and the relationship to the wider context reinforced a feeling that these talented architects could become a force to be reckoned with in bridge design.”

James Sinclair of Leicester Regeneration said “The whole process of the design competition has been really worthwhile and has allowed us to select a winner from a shortlist of exceptional proposals. The successful design spans the river with a lightness of touch and it has a gently arching deck, counterbalanced by sweeping structural cables which dip below the deck level to give a symmetrical and orderly profile and uninterrupted views of the river”.

Yves Pagès of Explorations Architecture stated “Explorations Architecture and Buro Happold have worked together to produce a design that is simple, elegant and well detailed. The structure is honest, making best use of each of its components and delivers a lightweight solution that delicately integrates with the river banks. This innovative white concrete self anchored suspension bridge glides over the river Soar providing a motif for the Abbey Meadows regeneration.’

The design team will now work closely with the client to refine the design and deliver the project.

River Soar Foot and Cycle Bridge Competition information from the RIBA 260209



Previously:

16 Dec 2008
Shortlist announced – River Soar Footbridge Competition

The RIBA is delighted to announce the shortlist in the competition to design a new foot and cycle bridge crossing the River Soar in Leicester.

151 expressions of interest were received from all over the world including India, Australia, Iceland, Brazil and the USA. Six teams have now been shortlisted for the second stage design phase and those teams are:

Allies and Morrison with Price and Myers
Explorations Architecture, Paris with Buro Happold
Knight Architects with Gifford Bridge Designers
McDowell & Benedetti with Arup
Moxon Architects with Arup
Ramboll Whitbybird

James Sinclair of Leicester Regeneration Company said “We have been delighted by both the quantity and the quality of the submissions received, even though this has made the selection exercise a very exacting process. We now have an outstanding shortlist of design teams and look forward to seeing the results of their design development in the New Year”.

The shortlisted designs will be submitted in early February 2009 with final presentations held on 19 February 2009 in Leicester.

28 Oct 2008
River Soar Foot and Cycle Bridge Competition

This new competition seeks suitable architect or engineering-led teams for the design of a new foot and cycle bridge crossing the River Soar in Leicester. The competition is being organised by the RIBA Competitions Office.

The project vision is to stimulate the regeneration of the Abbey Meadows area of the city and to connect the proposed Leicester Science Park and the adjacent National Space Centre, with the residential development to be carried out at Wolsey Island on the opposite bank of the River Soar.

The budget for the bridge is estimated to be £1.5 m inclusive of fees.

Initial application will be by expression of interest. A shortlist of up to six teams will then be selected to take part in the design phase of the competition.

Anyone interested in being considered should contact the RIBA Competitions Office for a preliminary briefing paper. This can be downloaded from www.architecture.com/competitions. Deadline for receipt of expressions of interest is 4 Dec 2008 2pm.



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