London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon
Photo Credit To Heatherwick Studios

London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon

London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon

In 2004, a pedestrian bridge with a difference was opened in London spanning an inlet off the main canal at Merchant Square, Paddington Basin.

The Rolling Bridge was conceived by the Heatherwick Studio, who were influenced by the fluid, coiling tails of the animatronic dinosaurs in the Jurassic Park films. The team evolved the design to create a bridge that curls up until its two ends spiral together to make a circle.

heatherwick-Rolling-Bridge

The simple, self-contained structure, fixed only to one bank, rolls up to become a freestanding sculptural object, leaving nothing behind on the other side. Powered by hydraulic rams, the steel mechanism is very quiet. Consisting of eight triangular sections that extend to form a conventional 12m steel and timber footbridge. To allow for the passage of boats, hydraulic pistons curls up the structure to form an octagon.

Conventional opening bridges break apart in the middle or hinge from one side to let boats pass through. Heatherwick wanted to design a bridge that would get out of the way using a softer mechanism to transform itself by mutating rather than fracturing.

In 2005, the bridge won the British Structural Steel Design Award.

London’s Sculptural Rolling Bridge is a design icon

Heatherwick Studio is a team of 180 problem solvers dedicated to making the physical world better for everyone. Based out of a combined workshop and design studio in Central London, they create buildings, spaces, master-plans, objects and infrastructure. Focusing on large scale projects in cities all over the world, they prioritise those with the greatest positive social impact. Working as practical inventors with no signature style, their motivation is to design soulful and interesting places which embrace and celebrate the complexities of the real world.

Collaborators on the project included DJW Consulting, Gardiner & Theobald, Mace, Montagu Evans, Primary Fluid, Littlehampton Welding, Ron Packman, Solent Fluid Power, SKM Anthony Hunts, and Power.

Post source : Heatherwick Studios

About The Author

Anthony brings a wealth of global experience to his role as Managing Editor of Highways.Today. With an extensive career spanning several decades in the construction industry, Anthony has worked on diverse projects across continents, gaining valuable insights and expertise in highway construction, infrastructure development, and innovative engineering solutions. His international experience equips him with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities within the highways industry.

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