Pedestrian Bridge in Austin, Texas by MRA – Miró Rivera Architects

Article source: MRA – Miró Rivera Architects

With a design inspired by the reeds that cover the shores of the lake, the bridge is a light and maintenance-free structure that is well-integrated within its wetland setting. The bars/reeds intertwine at the abutments and “grow” over the bridge, camouflaging it and transforming the bridge into a symbiotic, almost invisible link.
Composed of five nested pipes, the arch structure spans 100 feet with a main span of 80 feet.

Image Courtesy © Paul Finkel

• Architects: MRA – Miró Rivera Architects
• Project: Pedestrian Bridge
• Location:  Austin, Texas
• Photography: Paul Finkel
• Software used: AutoCad
• Client: Withheld at Owner’s Request
• Design Team: Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP, Miguel Rivera, FAIA LEED AP
• Area: 80 ft span
• Structural Engineer: Architectural Engineers Collaborative
• Contractor: Signor Enterprises
• General Contractor: Don Crowell, Inc.

Image Courtesy © Paul Finkel

The pipes support ½” diameter bars that act as both decking and guardrail via a simple field bend from horizontal to vertical. The irregular length and close spacing of the bars recall the native reeds of the site, and the thin profile of the superstructure is made thinner when viewed through the visual veil of the reeds. To further incorporate the bridge with its natural setting, the steel, rope handrail, and stone ramps are left unfinished to weather.

Image Courtesy © Paul Finkel

Located on a densely vegetated site in Lake Austin, the Pedestrian Bridge connects the main house on the property with a newly constructed guest house. With a design inspired by the reeds and other native vegetation that cover the shores of the lake, the bridge is a light and maintenance-free structure that is well-integrated within its wetland setting. The bars/reeds intertwine at the abutments and “grow” over the bridge, camouflaging it and transforming the bridge into a symbiotic, almost invisible link.
The bridge is composed of three elements:

Image Courtesy © Paul Finkel

Superstructure

The arch structure spans 100 feet with a main span of 80 feet. It is composed of five nested five-inch diameter pipes that diverge gracefully between the spring-point of the main span and the abutment at the beginning of the bridge.

Decking and Railing

The pipes support ½” diameter bars that act as both decking and guardrail via a simple field bend from horizontal to vertical. The irregular length and close spacing of the bars recall the native reeds of the site, and the thin profile of the superstructure is made thinner when viewed through the visual veil of the reeds.The handrail consists of a rope secured with steel wire rings to a 1×1 horizontal tube welded to the vertical bars.

Image Courtesy © Paul Finkel

Abutment

Native stone slabs are layered vertically to create the ramps at the abutments. Deep raked joints recreate the rhythm of the steel bars of the deck and railings.
To further incorporate the bridge with its natural setting, the steel is left unfinished to weather, just like the rope handrail and the stone ramps.

Tags: Austin, Texas

Category: Bridge

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