Pont d’Argens

The challenge was to design a low impact, cost effective river crossing that not only satisfied the practical and structural requirements, but also sits harmoniously within its natural setting.

The bridge is formed of two steel suspension cables hanging from a single pylon, supporting a steel framed bridge deck consisting of 10mm diameter bars crossing over to form a large mesh. This mesh is supported by a frame of steel angles to create a modular section. Timber planks sit atop the mesh to form the walkway. Most elements have a dual structural/design purpose. The balustrade is a beam, and the handrail and decking are parts of the primary load spreading system. Scoop foundations were used to resist the catenary forces in the weak Alluvial soil.

The remote and inaccessible location of the site ruled out the use of any kind of heavy lifting construction equipment, meaning the bridge had to be installed by hand. In response, the suspension bridge was designed to be fabricated in 15 sections, made up of a perimeter frame with crossing bars at varying angles forming the shell. The sections and supporting cables were transported to the south bank of the river site, where they were hauled across and secured into place one-by-one via a temporary zip wire system. The lightweight structure and flexibility of the supporting cables meant that during construction the bridge form evolved as each new section was installed.

The final design took its inspiration from the simple round bottomed wicker basket — a traditional, handcrafted tool designed to safely hold and transport its contents from A to B.