In designing a footbridge for a small community in the metropolitan area outside of Barcelona, architecture studio Alfa Polaris opted for a truss design. Though eminently practical, the typology was more than a functional choice. It also stands as a metaphor for the service that the bridge provides for the community as a whole.
Alfa Polaris' footbridge crosses the Mongent River. The small waterway splits Montornes del Valles, a municipality of about 16,000 people total. Around 12,000 of that population lives in Montornes Centre, but the remaining live across the river in Montornes North. By opting for a truss design, Alfa Polaris makes the bridge's sides stand as a visual metaphor for the crosshatching of the two communities.
Beyond its metaphorical value, the bridge is a friendly and convenient conduit for pedestrians and cyclists.
Image Credit: Xavier Font
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Truss Design Bridges
- Opportunity to innovate on practicability and use of truss design for pedestrian bridges.
- Metaphorical Bridges
- Opportunity to design bridges that serve a metaphorical purpose for the community they are built in.
- Pedestrian and Cyclist Conduits
- Opportunity to design convenient and efficient footbridges that cater to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists alike.
Where This Applies
- Architecture
- Innovation opportunities exist in designing structures that serve both practical and metaphorical functions.
- Urban Planning
- Creating bridges as a means to connect communities and stimulate growth.
- Transportation
- Opportunities to innovate on pedestrian and cyclist access across bodies of water with safe, friendly, and convenient designs.
