50 BRIDGES
LEIDSCHE RIJN, 1998
The master plan for Leidsche Rijn, Utrecht, was completed by Maxwan in 1995. As a result 150 bridges were needed to connect the streets of this new city over an extensive network of canals as part of the sustainable water-management plan. Maxwan was asked to design 50 of those bridges.
We decided not to make an issue out of the span of the bridge, but rather to treat each bridge as a segment of public street, with a railing. A good street implies efficiency. The smoothest possible links were made, curving the sides of the bridge to match the traffic setting on either side of the water. Ponds were allowed to appear in the deck of the bridge where asphalt was unnecessary.
Credits:
program
50 bridges for cars, bikes and pedestrians
client
City of Utrecht
country
Netherlands
city
Leidsche Rijn
scale
M
site area
0.6 ha
total floor space
6'000 m2
partner in charge
team leader
team
collaborator
structural engineer: ABT Delft, contractors: Van der Made, Fobi, Van Wijk, Wallaard
