NORRBOTNIABANAN BRIDGE
Invited competition, Robertsfors 2022

The competition brief asked for a landscape bridge that with a strong identity of its own can become a landmark and a positive symbol for the Norrbottniabanan Line and the Swedish railway system in general as a sustainable means of transport for future generations. Robertsfors’ history as an ironwork company town, together with the advantages of steel in terms of reduced carbon footprint, structural malleability and possible future recycling inspired T&V’s search for a design that is both light and expressive. The resulting proposal is a new landscape bridge conceived as a deep red structure made up of equilateral trusses of weathering steel resting on slender concrete supports. Within the wast open valley landscape, the bridge has a dual function: a visual and evocative landmark as well as pure rational and forward-looking infrastructure.

In addition to its relationship to historic pioneering steel bridges, the quality of the deep red truss can, through its geometrical pattern effect, evoke both contemporary landscape art installations and playful patterns present in ancient local crafts such as cross-stitching, Sami jewellery and clothing art, or the imagery of Viking Age runic writing.

A steel bridge has several major advantages as the number of bridge columns can be halved, which is positive both for the landscape and at the same time results in savings in time and cost during construction on site. With fewer bridge columns, the impact in the passage over the cultural landscape, the cultural railway and existing pipelines can also be minimised. The steel structure is recyclable in all parts and, unlike a concrete structure, is placed entirely on top of the bridge pillars, which with greater clearance enhances the experience and legibility of the open agricultural landscape and its visual connection with the old mill buildings. The steel truss structure can also naturally integrate the various functional elements of the landscape bridge, such as the superstructure, the catenary, noise barriers, railings, etc without affecting the design.

In collaboration with structural engineers Buro Happold.