Clydebank architecture competition : Information

Completed structure images 13 Jun 2008 Clydebank’s Swan Bridge Takes Flight 28 Apr 2008 A new £495,000 bridge canopy inspired by a swan in flight and spanning the Forth & Clyde Canal within Clydebank town centre was lifted into place at the end of last week (22 April 2008). The canopy is designed by leading international architects RMJM, who won a competition entered by more than 60 architects from around the world to create a landmark structure as part of the town’s regeneration plans. The winning design mirrors a swan in flight and was chosen from 66 designs by Clydebank Re-built, the town’s urban regeneration company, and the RIAS (The Royal Incorporation of Architects Scotland). The canopy, which was funded by the Scottish Government, Clydebank Re-built and URBAN II European funding, will cover the Sylvania Way pedestrian bridge spanning the Forth & Clyde Canal within Clydebank town centre and replaces the unpopular 25 year old metal-latticed frame, creating a new focal point for the town. RMJM teamed up with international multi disciplinary engineering consultancy Buro Happold to devise the elegant structure and select materials that were both sustainable and maintenance free. Both the tensile fabric used for the canopy and the steel used for its supports are recyclable or reusable. The canopy spans 40 metres, cantilevering 20 metres on either side of the central supports. The fabric is PTFE coated glass fibre, which is the same material used to cover the O2 Arena, and is stretched over a series of arches to form the wings of a swan. Each wing is supported by steel arms springing from four steel legs spread either side of the bridge. Winning designer, Neil McLean of architects RMJM, wanted to create a design that reflected the natural environment and rejuvenation of the town and surrounding area: “The canopy takes inspiration from a swan in flight over the canal, with two long cantilevering wing spans emerging from a central supporting steel structure. I wanted to design something that was both beautiful and sustainable. I wanted the canopy to represent the natural environment of the river, canal and mudflats downstream, which are well known for attracting a diverse range of bird species. It was also symbolic of the community rising to take on a new life as part of the town’s wider regeneration plans.” The canopy will be complete and ready for use in May 2008. Clydebank bridge canopy: PR from RMJM 280408 Clydebank bridge architect : RMJM cre8architecture entry: Previously: Winning design in the Clydebank Re-Built and ROAS competition for a design for a new bridge canopy for the Forth & Clyde Canal Bridge at Clydebank Shopping Centre: new bridge canopy: Neil McLean image from Clydebank Re-built 250107 WINNING “SWAN IN FLIGHT” DESIGN FOR £200k CANOPY ACROSS THE FORTH & CLYDE CANAL AT CLYDEBANK A new £200k canopy for the pedestrian bridge over the Forth & Clyde Canal at Clydebank Shopping Centre is to be designed by Neil McLean of Glasgow architects RMJM, following a major design competition amongst architects (24 Jan 2007). Neil McLean’s winning design reflects a swan in flight over the canal, with two long cantilevering wing spans emerging from a central supporting steel structure. “The winning entry stood out as an inspired solution and an iconic structure. It is strikingly elegant and sophisticated. It has beauty with lasting value and will look well from all approaches, not least from the canal itself”, said Andrew Wright, leading architect and past president of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS), who chaired the judging panel. Sixty six architects submitted designs in the novel competition – initiated by RIAS and Clydebank Re-built, the town’s pathfinder urban regeneration company - to design a canopy to replace the existing 25-year old metal-latticed framed which local people had criticised as being “unsightly”. “We were delighted with the wide response to the competition from architects in Scotland, from the rest of the UK and a few from abroad. Many found real inspiration in their design approach from Clydebank’s illustrious past and its plans for the future”, added Mr Wright. Construction work on the new canopy is expected to start in August and it should be completed by December. The winning design could be enhanced during the hours of darkness through a programme of changing light effects as “a beacon to the regeneration of the area”. The canopy project is funded by West Dunbartonshire Council through a grant from the Scottish Executive’s Cities Growth Fund, Strathclyde European Partnership Urban II programme, and Clydebank Re-built. The new canopy will be a feature in the eventual link up of the town centre with the regenerated Queens Quays, the former John Brown shipyards site. Four designs were short-listed in December by the judging panel. The four short-listed designs were from architects Graeme Andrew of ATA Studios, Glasgow; Constantine Koritsas, London; Ged Young of AIM Architects, Dundee with Arups Engineering and Neil McLean of RMJM, Glasgow with Buro Happold Engineers. A two- week exhibition of the winning design, together with the short-listed designs and a selection of the other entries is to open in Clydebank Shopping Centre next month. It will be opened by John McFall MP, chair of Clydebank Re-built on Friday 9th February. Clydebank Shopping Centre - new bridge canopy: Building PR from Clydebank Re-built 250107 The canopy design competition was launched by RIAS (Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland) and Clydebank Re-built, the town’s pathfinder urban regeneration company in September 2006, with closing date for entries on 17 November. The judging panel included expert architects and engineers, and representatives from West Dunbartonshire Council, British Waterways Scotland, Nelson Bakewell, property managers for the shopping centre and Clydebank Re-built. A total of 66 architects submitted designs for the Clydebank canopy competition. Previously Neil McLean has taken a major role on the Custom House Quay development for RMJM Architects, Glasgow