- Architects: Ramboll
- Area: 800 m²
- Year: 2021
Helsingborg, a coastal city in southern Sweden is putting its ambitious aspirations to establish from being known for its old town towards lively new urban communities. The goal is addressed by regenerating its urban fabric into action, creating a new wave of development. The wharf era has left its impression through the existing dockyards, which are getting established by ‘urban archipelago’. These new urban plans necessitated the construction of a new bridge.
The varvsbron Dockyard Bridge, which is located in an area of tremendous industrial heritage, has become a focal point for the regeneration of Helsingborg in general. For this project execution, three multinational design consultant teams were invited to submit their design bids in 2014.
Ramboll Sweden, with the UK Architect Stephen James, was ultimately successful in the competition that featured an inventive hybrid bridge proposal. With pleasant and secure lighting throughout, the Varvsbron dockyard bridge by Ramboll is designed to provide barrier-free access for people of all mobility kinds.
Ramboll architects are known to create sustainable cities and societies all around the world by combining their local expertise with global knowledge. Buildings, transportation, water, environment & health, architecture & landscape, energy, and management are some of their expertise.
Varvsbron dockyard bridge is designed with both suspension and cable-stayed structures. The bridge follows a softly inclined, twisted path. It has two outwardly inclined pylons from which the bridge deck is suspended dramatically above the water.
Through the plan, you can see how it curls in an S-shape that seems both spontaneous and natural. The curve aligns efficiently while resolving the site’s skewed axis and achieves the design brief’s difficult criteria. With a form that seems both spontaneous and natural.
Three cables strung from two oppositely inclined pylons, constitute the bridge’s principal focal points, hold the deck at its mid-span, over the water. Furthermore, sophisticated membrane and cable materials are employed to hover over the walkway railing that offers walkers support while also adding architectural interest to the bridge.
The lightweight cables swoop beneath the deck to cradle it from below and emerge on the other side. The cable-supported bridge brings a dynamic statement to the opposite pylon. It further connects the edge of the deck forming a fluidity to the overall arrangement. The bridge deck is planned at regular intervals and is made out of trapezoidal steel box sections.
The deck of the varvsbron dockyard bridge branches at each pylon to lend two interesting and interactive cantilevered spaces. This allows the pedestrian to pause and reflect while walking. One faces over the bustling ferry channel to the north, and the other gently touches down on the new park. Its form and placement are seen to form many vantage points above the water, creating a memorable image for the city and its dockyard history.
The pylons are painted and strengthened longitudinally and transversely to tolerate the compressive stress, tension, and loads. Each inclined pylon rises 23 meters above each deck. The bridge’s main construction, an asymmetric cable-stay, ensures form efficiency. Ramboll architects concentrated on the cable and pylon geometry sensitivity in the design to balance steel’s efficiency with an appealing design. The pylon is a distinguishing feature of the Varvsbron dockyard bridge’s design.
They are engineered with steel box sections that taper as they rise above. The three principal steel cables are 70-meter-diameter locked coil cables that are connected within the pylons.
On sunny days, the mesh on the bridge’s sides protects bridge users from harsh weather while allowing them to enjoy open-air and sunlight. And illuminate the bridge during the day and glow at night to promote visibility and safety on the path. Ramps on both sides of the varvsbron dockyard bridge provide for easily accessible design and multimodal access, connecting locals, visitors, students, residents, and workers to both sides of the land.
The parapet of the Varvsbron dockyard bridge is a unique stainless steel system with V-supports. They are widely spaced along each edge, with a stainless steel woven mesh that also gives an infill and follows the curve of the deck. The bridge is stabilized and is anchored to the ground by four additional cables for good base support.
The concept of the Varvsbron dockyard bridge is more than just a functional passage. It opens a new avenue and contributes to the shaping of a more pedestrian-friendly public space.
Varvsbron dockyard bridge is anticipated to become a popular destination in its own right, with spaces designed to encourage good user interaction for the locals as well as for the tourists.
Users have reacted positively to the new Varvsbron dockyard bridge, which exemplifies confidence in engineering solutions that are rapidly evolving while promoting more inclusive design.
About Ramboll Architects
Over the years, Ramboll architects have solved many distinctive and challenging projects like Queensferry crossing, One of the most stunning engineering solutions of the twenty-first century. It is said to be the world’s longest three-tower cable-stayed bridge and the UK’s tallest bridge. It is designed proudly alongside its historic neighbors–the world-famous Forth Bridge, Forth Road Bridge, connecting Edinburgh with the county of Fife.
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