01 December 2008

Kurilpa Bridge

New Bridge by Cox Rayner Architects paves the way for the future.

The world’s first tensegrity pedestrian bridge, designed by Cox Rayner Architects, is due to be completed later this year on the banks of the Brisbane River.

The Kurilpa Bridge, commissioned as part of Premier Anna Bligh’s commitment to providing better access for pedestrians and cyclists, and has already been singled out for its innovative approach to design.

Taking the unique principle of tensegrity – which allows a structure to be concurrently strong, yet incredibly light – the bridge will link the city’s legal precinct to its cultural hub and provide a 425 metre pathway for users.

Baulderstone Kurilpa Bridge Project Manager Paul Stathis says that it was a combination of the engineers wanting the challenge of building something very lightweight and efficient and the architects wanting to build something that wasn’t just a ‘run-of-the-mill’ concrete bridge. “It’s not just unique in appearance, it’s unique in design and engineering,’’ Stathis says.

He says that while each of the 12.8m bridge deck segments are uniform, the cables that support the bridge differ in length, angle and load, creating engineering challenges.

“We are building the bridge deck piece by piece, night by night. Every element that’s installed is random, with the exception of the deck and the crossbeams – but the work is definitely not speculative or random,” Stathis says.

Check out the project progress here

cox.com.au

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This bridge is the ugliest bridge I have ever seen. It is quite incompatible with its surroundings. It looks like a bunch of sticks thrown into the water. Yes it is unique, but in the ugliest way possible.

Peter Woods July 24 2009

I agree with Peter ...this IS the ugliest bridge I have ever seen. When I first saw it, I thought I was looking at some kind of scaffolding surrounding the 'new' bridge!!! ....it's so harsh to the eye - it overshadows GOMA and other surrounding structures....and it just spoils the Brisbane River.

sophia August 16 2009

I think it looks great I'm 13 and i hope to one day become an architect or possibly engineer, and when that happens i would love to be able to a bridge like this one.

billy August 18 2009

At first, I liked it, but the more I saw it within the environment, the more I saw it as an eyesore. Cox I believe, did a great job of the previous foot bridge near Southbank, but Kurilpa bridge obstructs the views of other great architecture - it appears to make the statement "Look at me look at me!" I have looked at this bridge from various viewpoints and you just can't get a decent view of the surrounding built environment without noticing it. How it got approved is beyond me?

Mark September 20 2009

Bah humbug you boring people...it's innovative, in your face and very iconic.

Peter September 22 2009

I do not know of even one Brisbane resident who thinks this bridge looks good. Everyone I've spoken to about it hoped that the steel cables were merely odd scaffolding and that something beautiful would emerge upon completion. What is the point of innovative engineering and architecture if it offends the eye of the general public.

Bronwyn September 25 2009

This bridge just seems like Cox Rayner is desperate to produce something iconic. Architecture should be about complimenting the environment and providing a service, not a vehicle for showing off what great feats you think you are capable of at the expense of existing views!! Its an overpowering eyesore, not to mention totally unnecessary.

veronica September 25 2009

At first I was very impressed with the design but now I believe it is too dominant and detracts from the arts precinct. Entering the city via Coronation Drive your view of the river is ostructed by this eyesore. I thought the horizontal beams were for pretensioning not a permanent feature. Final comment, great bridge, wrong place.

Tom Lamb October 01 2009

It's good - and it is hear to stay. billy above has the right attitude - take it as an inspiration. The Eiffel Tower doesn't exactly fit in with the rest of Parisien architecture - but it has stood the test of time.

Tony October 17 2009

The bridge looks fantastic, it's great to see so much adventurous architecture and design occuring within Brisbane. It's in stark contrast to the buildings created in the 80's. The get em up, and get em finished approach of that era. Finally we have some personality we can be proud of .

Mitchell November 05 2009

I've been doing my very best to accept the Kurilpa Bridge despite my initial impression that the completed bridge was still under construction. I walked across it, around it, cycled over it and eventually forgot it. Just recently I caught a glimpse of it from the Captain Cook Bridge as you look up the river towards Mount Coot-tha, with the Goodwill and Victoria Bridges in the foreground, and the William Jolly Bridge in the background. I have reaised that despite my efforts to 'like' the bridge it just doesn't 'fit in'. I understand that some people in Brisbane or the designing architect wanted a 'statement' or something 'modern' or 'unique'. But this is not the right place. For those who want a more'stimulating landscape I would be only too happy for you to erect some white poles in your back yard and string wires between them. But this is a public place,not a private one, and architects (and the people who approve such things) need to bear responsibility for more than their own egos when designing and erecting such structures. We now have the remodelled and very 'modern' unsightly and hot King George Square to endure for some time, so I do hope that any governments about to embark on any similar projects consult with a broad cross section of the general public before completing the design of any more excessively 'innovative' projects. I also encourage any such aspiring designers to read more on environmental pshchology and aesthetics by authors such as Jack Nasar or Douglas Porteous or Arthur E Stamps. My view is that the Sydney Opera House is Iconic. So is the Great Barrier Reef, the Sydney harbiour Bridge. And indeed the Eiffel Tower. The Kurilpa Bridge is not.

Robert Preston February 13 2010

I had a good look at this monstrosity for the first time yesterday.Fiddle sticks,nightmare,incomprehensible,are a few words that come to mind.

The designer appears to have been trying to prove how clever he is at the cost of an extremely ugly structure which would be happier in an amusement park.

Simplicity combined with functionality should be the key requirements in a bridge.But I suppose it does fit in with GoMA,the State Library extension and the ferris wheel,all of which are abominations.Symboliizes our corrupt and incompetent government,anyway.