World NEWSMAY-JUNE 2018 SEAB 25
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- MVRDV won the competition
for Dawn Bridge, Shanghai,
a new 80-metre-long dual
use crossing conceived as a
landmark for fostering daily life
and social activities.
The bridge is located near
the historical town of Zhujiajiao,
between the famous Fangsheng
Bridge and the low-key Qingpu
Road Bridge.
The 24-metre-wide bridge
signals to the future of the area,
with a design that adds value to
its surrounding, fostering social
activities at the riverfront. Completion is anticipated for 2019.
Dawn Bridge lies between new residential developments at the
edge of Zhujiajiao and close to the historical crossing of Fangsheng
Bridge, a landmark since 1571. The bridge establishes a relationship
with the delicate surrounding by absorbing its contextual palette of
colours and materials. Gray roofs are recalled by the grey asphalt,
whilst white walls are expressed with the prominent white bridge
structure. The reddish wood used in houses nearby inspires the
MVRDV’s Dawn Bridge near Shanghai offers seats to view a
historic town and river scenery
Copenhagen, Denmark – One of
Scandinavia’s most recognised design firms,
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, has
joined global architecture firm Perkins+Will
in a strategic partnership that extends
Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s international
reach and reinforces Perkins+Will’s
commitment to sustainability and design
excellence.
`By combining Perkins+Will’s 83-year
legacy of design excellence with Schmidt
Hammer Lassen’s illustrious Danish design
pedigree, the united firms will make even
greater contributions to the canon of
cultural and civic architecture, according
to Perkins+Will CEO Phil Harrison.
“Part of what makes this partnership so
special is that Perkins+Will and Schmidt
Hammer Lassen share a common set of
values: design excellence, sustainability,
innovation, and the highest level of client
service,” said Mr Harrison.
Bjarne Hammer, founding partner of
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects joins Perkins+Will
pedestrian deck and landings,
whilst the green water and nature
appear in the form of trees on
top of the deck similar to those
currently found at the Fangsheng
Bridge.
MVRDV’s design responds to
constraints both in construction
area and clearance envelope
and addresses the challenge
of building the shortest bridge
with an accommodating slope.
In addition, the bridge proposes
a solution to favour the view over
the old town of Zhujiajiao and
maximise the space available
for pedestrians. To minimise the noise and air pollution from the
road on the bridge, the middle truss is cladded and covered by
a new structure: a flat deck which morphs into a tridimensional
structure and becomes a tribune for meetings, gatherings and to
experience views of the Dianpu river and the old town.
MVRDV won the competition-winning design selected by
Zhujiajiao Municipality and the completion date is anticipated
for 2019.Schmidt Hammer Lassen, agreed: “Our
firms share a clear mission: through
architecture and design, we make a
positive difference in the world and in the
lives of others. We both believe strongly in
the transformative, healing power of design
to address some of the most pressing social
and environmental issues of our time. And,
we both thrive in a design culture that
encourages collaboration.”
In addition to a shared vision and
purpose, the two firms have symbiotic
market strategies. Perkins+Will aims to
diversify its global talent, expand its cultural
and civic practice, and reinforce the caliber
of its design portfolio. At the same time,
Schmidt Hammer Lassen aims to expand
into new geographic markets, grow its
client base, and apply groundbreaking
design research to practice.
Perkins+Will’s global platform also
provides a host of benefits to Schmidt
Hammer Lassen’s international clientsbecause they now have all of the
resources, talent, and expertise-including
research-they need within a single firm.
This streamlines collaboration, facilitates
communication, and ensures smooth
project delivery.
The union of Perkins+Will and
Schmidt Hammer Lassen is supported
in large part by both firms’ legacies of,
and commitments to, design excellence.
Additionally, both Schmidt Hammer Lassen
and Perkins+Will are known leaders
in sustainability. Through their high-
performing, environmentally responsive
designs, the firms contribute significantly
to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions that cause climate change,
and to the improvement of human and
ecological health. The partnership is also
a celebration of differences in culture,
customs, language, and heritage-and of
the design innovation that occurs when
those differences interplay.Photo: © MVRDV