Seventy four designs are in the running for a new pedestrian bridge across the River Thames at Nine Elms, submitted in response to an open competition for a crossing between Grosvenor Railway Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge.
Expected to cost around £40m, a much lower figure than Thomas Heatherwick’s £175m “Garden Bridge”, the proposed link will provide a pedestrian and cycle link from Nine Elms to Pimlico.
The project, outlined in a TfL report completed in 2013, will serve 9,000 walkers and 9,000 cyclists a day. It forms part of a £1bn infrastructure upgrade that includes an extension to the Northern Line, a new network of footpaths and two riverbus piers.
Leader of Wandsworth Council and jury panel member, Ravi Govindia, said: “We challenged the world’s designers to come up with creative solutions to a very complex set of design, engineering and transport challenges. The response is testament to the exceptional talent out there. We have now begun to analyse each proposal in detail and I encourage Londoners to explore these ideas for themselves and to tell us what they think.”
A detailed technical assessment of each design proposal will now take place, with a shortlist of up to four teams announced in March 2015 to develop more detailed plans.
The 74 entries span a huge range of architectural styles, with some drawing inspiration from existing bridges, some with all the signs of being budget-busters, and some flights of fancy that might struggle to take off.
You can see all 74 proposals here, but here are 10 of our favourites:
The Squiggle Bridge
Is this parametric design or just a bored architect’s doodle?
The Calatrava Bridge
Could London be about to get a bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava?
The New Garden Bridge
In an obvious challenge to Thomas Heatherwick’s bridge the two towers of this design are topped with gardens
The Waterfall Bridge
After a garden bridge, the next logical step? A waterfall bridge!
The Spiderweb Bridge
In this design the bridge’s deck will be suspended in a spider’s web
The Minimalist Bridge
Does what it says on the tin – should please the cost consultants
Climbing Frame Bridge
A giant climbing frame spanning the Thames would double as a perfect playground for the children
The Falkirk Wheelie Bridge
This bridge seems to be accessed by a rotating lift inspired by the Falkirk Wheel?
The Millennium (Dome) Bridge
Utilising the pylons form the Millennium Dome this bridge is distinctly Wilkinson Eyre-esque
The Light Beam Bridge
Construction Manager’s favourite design is this single beam that seems to defy gravity as it flies over the Thames
