Taumanu Reserve Bridge wins award
What does an Auckland pedestrian bridge have in common with Denmark’s busiest transport hub?
The two projects have been declared joint winners of the prestigious World Architecture News Transport Award 2016.
Isthmus Group are the architects behind the winning Taumanu Reserve Bridge in Onehunga.
It was part of the Onehunga Foreshore restoration project that provided local residents with the first significant access to the water since the 1970s.
The other joint winner was Norreport Station in Denmark, designed by Gottlieb Paludan Architects, which caters to around 350,000 travellers a day.
The transport award judges praised the way in which the bridge connected a park split into two parts by a motorway.
‘‘A bridge of sufficient form and experience was required to stitch the halves together, with a legibility that was of the park and not the motorway.’’
Judge Catherine Hallett, technical sponsor for river crossings at Transport for London, says the design was innovative.
‘‘It stands out, it does exactly what it says it is going to do.
‘‘It links to the beach, it looks like the beach. Beautiful to walk across, beautiful to look at, with function and form - it ticks all the boxes for me.’’
Sean Burke, an associate at Isthmus Group, says the company is honoured to receive the award. with the coast.
‘‘In design we talk a lot about putting people at the centre of the design. A really important part of this is by place-making through clever design.
‘‘Giving people a well designed place that they are proud to use, is safe to use and serves a purpose