We’ve delivered hundreds of bridges and boardwalks over the past 50 years. But we never stop learning and striving to be even better.


A big part of this is bringing a professional curiosity to all we do. We always enjoy casting an eye over innovative Access projects from other markets and countries. Here are some that have caught our eye recently. We asked some of our team for their professional commentary on what makes them so interesting.

#1 – Mozesbrug (Moses Bridge)

Most bridges go over water. Why not one that runs through it?

Location: Fort de Roovere, Halsteren, Netherlands

Completed: 2010

Design: RO&AD Architects

Client: Municipality of Bergen op Zoom



This remarkable sunken bridge sits in the middle of a 17th Century moat in the south-west of the Netherlands. Designed to be flush with the surrounding soil and water level, it’s practically invisible to passers-by. Completed in 2010 with a relatively small budget of just €250,000, the bridge is constructed entirely of sustainably-sourced Accoya wood – a durable long-life timber created through the acetylation wood modification process – and waterproofed with EPDM foil to protect it from decay and erosion. Each winter when the moat begins to freeze, the bridge is closed and filled with water to avoid damage. To prevent flooding at other times, a pump removes water during periods of heavy rainfall while two dams on either side of the moat are also used to maintain water levels.


Fleetwood commentary:


“This is a great example of how critical it is to specify the best type of timber for the application. Timber can be a fantastic hard-wearing material, as long as the specification is right.” Ian Joyce, Director.


“There’s nothing better than interacting with nature and getting as close as possible – and this unique structure really delivers.” Travis Lane, Construction Manager.


“A really interesting idea from an aesthetic point of view and very cool. I’d be keen to know how the Accoya goes long term. It has been touted as the next best thing, but I’m not sure if it has been tested much in Australian conditions.” Adrian Trimmer, Project Lead.


“The Dutch certainly love their canals, dykes and water bridges. Water proofing and drainage would have been the big tricks here and I imagine the upkeep is expensive. Is this really a bridge though? It looks like back-to-back dam walls to me!” Mark Jol, Senior Design Lead.


 (Reference: www.archello.com, accessed 11 Aug 2022)

#2 – MX3D Bridge

3D-printed from stainless-steel. Is this the future?

Location: Oudezijds Achterburgwal (canal), Amsterdam

Completed: 2021

Design: Joris Laarman, MX3D, Arup

Client: City of Amsterdam



In 2021, Robotics company MX3D used 3D printing to create a fully functional 12m stainless-steel bridge to span one of the most famous canals in Amsterdam. Over six months, the bridge was fabricated in a factory by six-axis robotic arms equipped with welding gear, before been craned into position over the canal. (The original, aborted, plan was to print the structure in situ.) The bridge’s curved form and perforated balustrades were designed using parametric modelling software. It’s also fitted with a network of sensors that allow it to collect data for use on a ‘digital twin’ to monitor performance factors like corrosion, load changes, environmental conditions and pedestrian usage. The goal was to showcase the potential applications of using multi-axis 3D printing technology to create more efficient structures that use less material. However, Australian-based architect Philip Oldfield (UNSW) calculated the 4,500kg of stainless steel used in the bridge equates to more than 27 tonnes of embodied carbon – suggesting traditional construction methods will be around for some time yet.


Fleetwood commentary:


“This is a very expensive way to build a crossing, so it’s clearly suited to applications of sculptural significance rather than purely practical ones. Personally, I don’t see stainless-steel 3D printed bridges becoming a trend any time soon, unless the engineering focuses on reducing the weights substantially and making the steel light and structural. Honeycomb beams and decking, perhaps?” Mark Jol, Senior Design Lead.


“Our industry needs to open its eyes to the future – technological innovation may be about to entirely reshape the way we build, opening us up to new skills and new ways of using traditional materials. This bridge is proof that anything that can be drawn and modelled in 3D, can ultimately be built.” Ian Joyce, Director.


“The embodied carbon issue is critical, but I really do love this idea and the use of 3D technology. It gives rise to a lot of whacky new designs that could be delivered. It would be interesting to know what the commercial outlay was for the six robotic arms.” Adrian Trimmer, Project Lead.


“3D printing can be used to create angles and shapes that would be near impossible to fabricate (traditionally), so looking to the future this is something we’re likely to see more and more with outdoor structures.” Travis Lane, Construction Manager.


 

(Reference: www.dezeen.com, photo credit Jande Groen)

#3 – Bayraklı Coast Pedestrian Bridge

An elegant and flowing design to showcase a stunning natural backdrop. 

Location: Izmir, Turkey

Completed: 2019

Design: Notarchitects, Notmimarlik

Client: Izmir Metropolitan Municipality


This elegant pedestrian bridge (measuring 74-metre including approach ramps) overlooks the Bayraklı coastline on the Gulf of Izmir in western Turkey. It was delivered as part of the ongoing IzmirDeniz project – created by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality back in 2011 to strengthen the relationship between the people of Izmir and the sea. Rather than appear as a static structure on the foreshore, pedestrians and cyclists moving across the bridge become parts of the façade itself, changing the view for observers through subtle light and shadow play at different times of the day and at different speeds. At night the bridge is illuminated by double-sided wall sconces with waterproof IP67 enclosure systems.


Fleetwood commentary:


“Certainly, it’s a very different shape and form for a bridge structure. I really like the way it lights up at night – it shows how clever lighting design can make a huge difference.” Travis Lane, Construction Manager.


“Functional structures becoming sculptures – fantastic! This type of structure is the mountain peak of design in our industry.” Ian Joyce, Director.


“Bridges offer such a great opportunity to enhance a landscape. The architects here have done very well to deliver that.” Mark Jol, Senior Design Lead.



 


(Reference: “Bayraklı Coast Pedestrian Bridge / Notarchitects + Notmimarlik” 12 Sep 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed 11 Aug 2022. <https://www.archdaily.com/947115/bayrakli-coast-pedestrian-bridge-notarchitects-plus-notmimarlik> ISSN 0719-8884)

#4 – Supertree Grove (Gardens by the Bay)

Fantasy blurs with reality in Singapore. 

Location: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Completed: 2013

Design: Grant Associates, Wilkinson Eyre Architects

Client: National Parks Board Singapore


Once described as Singapore’s answer to Avatar, Supertree Grove is a showpiece of access and horticultural artistry. Located in the Gardens by the Bay precinct at Marina Bay, the site features 18 giant tree-like structures standing between 25 and 50 meters tall, with several connected via a pedestrian skyway suspended 22 metres above the ground. The Supertrees aren’t just for show, mind you. One acts as an air exhaust. 11 have solar photovoltaic cells embedded into their canopies for harvesting solar energy. Over time, they have also become thriving vertical gardens with over 162,900 plants featuring 200+ species of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers. Creatively, the character and scale of the grove was inspired by both nature and fiction. The landscape architects, Grant Associates, took their cues from the soaring Karri trees of southern Western Australia as well as the magical forest in the anime film ‘Princess Mononoke’ by Japanese film studio, Studio Ghibli. Each Supertree consists of four parts: a reinforced concrete core, trunk, planting panels for the living skin and the canopy.


Fleetwood commentary:


“This is an engineering marvel and a great example of how tension and balance can come together to create seemingly impossible structures. The hanging boardwalk is fantastic and must feel very exposed, making it a great drawcard for visitors. It’s a wonderful example of what can be achieved when vision, need and financial surplus all come together.” Mark Jol, Senior Design Lead.



“This shows if you have the right budget, anything can be built. It’s the perfect demonstration of a government body having the courage to embrace innovative design, and allocate the money required to make it happen. It also shows how landscape structures can become part of providing a sustainable future for our environment – a space we all need to watch carefully.” Ian Joyce, Director.


“Architecturally these are stunning and world renowned. They almost feel like a larger version of our Adelaide Plaza arbours. I love these and their sheer size is truly incredible, bringing people from all over the world just to see them in person.” Travis Lane, Construction Manager.

 


(Image credit www.tripsavvy.com)

#5 – Camp Adventure Observation Tower

A landmark structure inspired by form and function. 

Location: Haslev, Denmark

Completed: 2019

Design: EFFEKT, Arup

Client: Camp Adventure


Project outline: Designed by Danish architects, EFFEKT, this striking 45-metre-high observation tower brings visitors closer to nature by providing an aerial perspective of Gisselfeld Klosters Forest, an historic glacial woodland about an hour south of Copenhagen. Rising from the forest floor like a giant wooden corkscrew, it features a seamless elevated boardwalk ramp that spirals between the tree canopy. Corten steel is used for all structural elements, while the surface of the boardwalk is made from locally-sourced oak. In clear weather, the tower offers unobstructed views for over 50km.


Fleetwood commentary:


“It’s a pretty stunning structure and the view from the top would be amazing. The way it rests naturally into the landscape, without taking away from the existing surroundings, is very impressive.” Travis Lane, Construction Manager.


“This is really, really cool. I love the intersection of the conical shape, the internal helix and the triangle trusses, it would have been a complex build with the amount of compound angles. The most interesting part is how the internal ramp is supported by the exoskeleton with no internal structure.” Adrian Trimmer, Project Lead.


“Elegant, accessible and beautiful, with a great mix of materials. This structure would be a wonderful inspiration to get out into the forest and enjoy the outdoors – in good weather, that is. From an engineering and architecture perspective, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime job.” Mark Jol, Senior Design Lead.


“A beautiful flowing design that complements its surroundings perfectly. I love how the structure is about so much more than just utility – it becomes an inspiring drawcard in its own right, allowing the public to fully appreciate an awesome natural setting.” Ian Joyce, Director.


 


(Reference: “Camp Adventure Observation Tower / EFFEKT” 19 Feb 2021. ArchDaily. Accessed 11 Aug 2022. <https://www.archdaily.com/914486/camp-adventure-observation-tower-effekt> ISSN 0719-8884)


 

Large or small. Simple or complex. Every Access structure is an opportunity to deliver a lasting community legacy.


Contact Fleetwood today to discuss your next bridge or boardwalk project.

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