dominique perrault: the arganzuela footbridge

‘arganzuela footbridge’ by dominique perrault in madrid, spain all images courtesy dominique perrault (above) image © DPA / adagp

‘arqanzuela footbridge’ by paris-based architect dominique perrault has opened to the public in madrid, spain. stretching over the manzanares river in to the park, the project is the architect’s first civil engineering work and is distinguished by a pair of conic structures that are wrapped in interlocking metallic ribbons.

aerial view image © ayuntamiento de madrid / DPA / adagp

providing a direct passage from one side of the river to the other, the footbridge also gives access to both pedestrians and cyclists to the expansive park below. the porous design allows natural sunlight to penetrate through to the foliage of the park, while establishing sight lines along the length of the span. the design is over 250 meters long, subtly expanding in its diameter from 5 to 12 meters.

view from park path image © ayuntamiento de madrid / DPA / adagp

utilizing the structural aid of two pillars laid at each end, the footbridge seeming floats in the air over the water. the skin is constructed out of metallic mesh which shelters the internal space from extreme weathers. interspersedly offering moments of complete transparency, the spiral provides a rhythmic and dynamic experience for the pedestrians.

on deck

general perspective image © ayuntamiento de madrid / DPA / adagp

rendered aerial view image © DPA / adagp

architect’s sketch image © dominique perrault / adagp

elevation image © DPA / adagp

diagram of the bridge’s make up image © DPA / adagp

skin treatment image © DPA / adagp

project info:

client: madrid city council, madrid, spain site area: 100, 000 m built area: foot bridge 150 m (section 1) 128 m (section 2) length, 5 to 12 m width engineering: MC2 / julio martinz calzon, madrid (structure); TYPSA, madrid (mechanical engineering)