Glasgow Bridge Design Contest News, Richard Rogers Partnership Image, Winner, Scottish river crossing photo
Glasgow Bridge Competition – Richard Rogers
Competition to design River Clyde Crossing, Scotland – Strathclyde Architecture Contest
post updated 2 September 2023
Richard Rogers gained planning permission for the Glasgow bridge in Dec 2004 but the design was abandoned in Spring 2006
GCC Pedestrian Bridge Competition
Glasgow Bridge Pictures: Photo Credit Steve Hosey Graphics
Glasgow Bridge
Glasgow Pedestrian Bridge
Richard Rogers Architects / WS Atkins were selected to design the new bridge across the River Clyde. £40m pedestrian curved crossing was decided by Glasgow City Council (GCC).
‘Called Neptune’s Way, the new arc-shaped design will link Tradeston and Broomielaw, and will include high quality public realm areas on either side of the river.’
‘The bridge, an elliptical crescent, was the unanimous choice of the judging panel and was also the public’s favourite when it was recently displayed with models of the rival bridge designs’.
Glasgow Bridge: image from Richard Rogers Partnership
“Charlie Gordon, council leader, banged on about the bridge resembling ‘a prow of a ship” – yawn. How much longer should Glasgow be held to ransom by limited imaginations which can’t see beyond the shipbuilding past? It’s as if all cultural activity from now on should be about celebrating, at the most, 70 years of heavy industry.”
Six Teams – Glasgow Bridge Competition Second Stage
27 Oct (Anonymous):-
1. Richard Rogers Partnership / WS Atkins: Neptune’s Way
2. Lifschutz Davidson: via
3. Arup with Norman Foster (Andy Bow): Glasgow’s Mirror Bridge
4. gm+ad architects: Latis
5. Future Systems with Mckeown Alexander: Peoples’ Crossing
6. Studio Bednarski with Austin Smith Lord: clyde 9
All shortlisted architects were asked for images, all six below:
Images of Richard Rogers Partnership / Atkins entry: Neptune’s Way
image from architect
Engineers:
Richard Rogers / WS Atkins project to build a £18m footbridge from the Broomielaw to Tradeston: GCC were to set appoint Faithful and Gould as the bridge’s engineer designers in mid 2004.
3 Oct 2005
Glasgow City Council – Bridge Name
Name the bridge competition is launched
Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, and schoolchildren from Hillhead Primary today jointly launched a competition to name the newest pedestrian bridge over the River Clyde.
The bridge which is due to start in January 2006 and finish the end of 2007 is part of a £34.6m project, of which nearly £4.7m is from the European Regional Development Fund.
The Glasgow bridge project also includes a public pontoon, a new quay wall at Tradeston, the redevelopment of the public realm along both sides of the river bank with soft landscaping, pavilions to house cafes and restaurants, event spaces and innovative lighting.
Turning the bridge and all other elements of the project into reality will be the job of a professional consortium led by project and cost managers Faithful & Gould, world-leading design and engineering consultancy Atkins, with renowned architects Richard Rogers Partnership and international lighting architects Speirs & Major Associates.
The bridge model is owned by Atkins, who have lent it to the Council for the duration of the competition at the Museum of Transport.
The Glasgow Museum of Transport is due to be relocated to a new riverside location in the next few years. Called the Riverside Museum, it will be sited on the northbank of the Clyde adjacent to the River Kelvin. The £50m Riverside Museum, designed by Zaha Hadid, is expected to open to the public in early 2009.
15 Sep 2005
Glasgow pedestrian and cycle bridge
Tradeston/Broomielaw pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Clyde:
Construction of the winning design is due to begin in August 2005.
Called Neptune’s Way, the new arc-shaped bridge design uses the principle of a cable stayed compression arch and a suspended deck to create a curved ramped deck which sweeps across the river in an elliptical path. The Glasgow bridge will link Tradeston and Broomielaw, and will include high quality public realm areas on either side of the river.
Glasgow City Council, which chose the design after a series of public exhibitions of the six anonymous competing designs, hopes the £40m Richard Rogers / Atkins bridge will act as a catalyst for the regeneration of Tradeston and will complement Glasgow’s flagship International Financial Services District.
Faithful & Gould will provide project and cost management services. Atkins will provide engineering, landscaping, hydrology and architectural support and Richard Rogers will provide concept architecture. Lighting design will be provided by Speirs & Major.
Project director Gordon Reid of Faithful & Gould says, “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as project managers and designers for this iconic structure. We are equally delighted to be working in partnership with Glasgow City Council to provide this important river crossing.”
Richard Rogers says, “Great! This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to one of Europe’s most vibrant cultural centres.”
18 Aug 2005
Tradeston Broomielaw Bridge Glasgow
GCC PR: NEW MODEL of Tradeston Broomielaw Bridge unveiled
Councillor Steven Purcell, Leader of Glasgow City Council, will (August 18, 2005) unveil a giant model that brings to life a new pedestrian and cycle bridge over the River Clyde.
The highly detailed model will be placed on public display in the entrance hall of Glasgow City Chambers from Thursday 18 August, 2005 until Friday 2 September, 2005.
It will give the people of Glasgow a chance to see for themselves the key design elements of the structure, which looks like the bow of a boat sailing down the River Clyde between Tradeston and Broomielaw.
The oval shaped bridge is part of a £34.6 million project, of which nearly £4.7 million is from the European Regional Development Fund. The project also includes a public pontoon, a new quay wall at Tradeston, the redevelopment of the public realm along both sides of the river bank with soft landscaping, pavilions to house cafes and restaurants, event spaces and innovative lighting.
Councillor Purcell said: “This model will allow the people of Glasgow to see for themselves how this iconic structure will look in situ when it is completed in 2007.
The bridge is a very exciting Council project that will link two of the key River Clyde regeneration projects, which are providing new homes and jobs for Glaswegians along the waterfront – the International Financial Services District on the Broomielaw and the developing urban quarter of Tradeston.
“This bridge belongs to the people of Glasgow. With this in mind, the Council will launch a competition to name the bridge within the next few months. I know that the people of Glasgow will take up this challenge with relish.”
Turning the bridge and all other elements of the project into reality will be the job of a professional consortium led by project and cost managers Faithful & Gould, world-leading design and engineering consultancy Atkins, with renowned architects Richard Rogers Partnership and international lighting architects Speirs & Major Associates. Construction is due to start in early 2006 and finish in late 2007.
Gordon Reid, Regional Director, Faithful & Gould, said: “It is an honour and privilege to be able to give something back to your home City. In providing the project and cost management services on this unique and demanding project, Faithful & Gould is proud to be able to assist in providing an icon that will instantaneously be identified with Glasgow.”
Drew Page, Director, Atkins, said: “Creating visually spectacular structures and being part of important regeneration projects is always exciting. Our experience in cities like London and Manchester demonstrate that bridges lie at the heart of riverside regeneration because of the affect they have on the way people move about the city.
“This project is at the forefront of bridge design technology, creating an iconic structure combining an arch with cable suspensions. When completed, this engineering challenge will provide a new and dramatic focal point with quality public space for the people of Glasgow.”
Guest of Honour at the Glasgow Bridge photocall will be Henry Mulholland, 82, of Tradeston. He will be joined by Councillor Purcell and Councillor Charlie Gordon, the Council’s spokesperson on the Clyde.
Mr Mulholland was the first Glaswegian to view the six finalists in the competition to design the new pedestrian bridge over the Clyde. The public exhibition of the finalists was held at The Lighthouse, Glasgow between 22 Dec 2003 and 28 Jan 2004.
Richard Rogers, Glasgow Bridge information: 18 Aug 2005
Architecture in Strathclyde
Another Glasgow bridge designed by a contemporary architect is the Kelvingrove Bridge proposal by John McAslan:
Comments / photos for the Glasgow Bridge Competition – design by Richard Rogers Partnership page welcome
