CPT bridge up for international award

WORDS: Remy Raitt

Cape Town’s Buitengracht pedestrian bridge at Coen Steytler Avenue has been shortlisted for top awards in two categories at the 2011 Footbridge Conference in Poland.

Up for the aesthetic and technical awards in the short-span footbridge category, this local architectural design will be competing against other international short-span footbridges.

About 50 worldwide entries were submitted in this year’s competition, which includes the aesthetic and technical awards in three categories: short, medium and long-span. The Buitengracht bridge is the only South African entry.

The bridge was completed last year by Gapp Architectsand Urban Designers, COA Architects and VelaVKE, the structural engineers and contract managers. It was built primarily to separate traffic and pedestrians at the busy intersection.

The 2010 Soccer World Cup prompted the construction, as the City of Cape Town realised throngs of fans would be using the intersection to reach the V&A Waterfront and the Greenpoint Stadium. The 101m-long bridge has six spans and arches over the five busy lanes on Buitengracht. It was completed within the
R25-million budget and satisfied all the goals it set out to achieve. With a gentle slope for wheelchair access,
an elevator and a staircase, the bridge is convenient for everyone who needs to cross the road. 

VISI’s Remy Raitt spoke to VelaVKE’s John Anderson, the Technical Director of the project, about the nomination for the award and VelaVKE’s involvement at the 2011 Footbridge Conference.

How will VelaVKE be involved at the conference? 

We’re presenting three papers on four footbridges that we’ve designed over the last two to three years. One of the papers concerns the Buitengracht pedestrian bridge.

What, in your opinion, is the significance of a South African bridge being nominated at this international event?

I think it shows we’re participating at an international level and that we’re interested in what other engineers and architects are doing globally.

Footbridges are generally taken for granted. Why do you think it’s important that they’re recognised?

Footbridges are wonderful opportunities for designers in that there’s some creative freedom in designing the structural forms. Because of this, footbridges are often used as positive landmarks in the urban environment. They are also used to spark urban renewal.

What impact does this bridge have on the area it’s located in and the city as a whole?

The Buitengracht pedestrian bridge has, first and foremost, solved a chronic pedestrian problem in Cape Town. It has therefore improved the link between the inner city and the V&A Waterfront. We hope the design integrates itself into Cape Town’s busy urban backdrop and that it’s a positive landmark for pedestrians and motorists.

More information: www.velavke.co.za, www.footbridge2011.pwr.wroc.pl, www.coasite.com