Abstract reflections from polished metal panels on a bridge in the Queen Elizabeth II Olympic park
The new connection between Olympia Park and the riverside path includes the lock area and honours it as a historical element. In order to create an attractive recreational space at the level of the river bank and Carpenters Lock, the underside of the bridge was clad with mirror-finished stainless steel. The shiny surface is designed to reflect the sunlight off the water and brighten up the surrounding area. A total of 125 tonnes of steel were used to build the Central Park Bridge. The post-Olympic period: the permanent bridge zigzags around the old lock area. Model photograph: heneghan peng architects. Central Park Bridge is made up of two parallel pedestrian access bridges diagonally linked by a narrow 'blade-like' walkway. The resulting Z-shape was clad with stainless steel and extended by an additional element for the duration of the Olympic Games: the area between the bridges was 'infilled' with a multi-coloured surface of recycled running shoes. Huge numbers of visitors can be accommodated by the 58-metre wide bridge during the Games. The confetti carpet will be removed afterwards, leaving two narrower bridges spanning the River Lea. The design is for three permanent link bridges spanning 36m above Carpenter's Lock. What makes them unusual is that during the Olympics, the spaces between these structures are also filled in, creating a single bridge some 54m wide. Once the circus leaves town, the temporary infill structures are to be removed. The geometry is such that the two edge bridges have a curved, twisting form. These two structures (each weighing between 40 and 50 tonnes) were erected in early March (see video). Structurally, they are tubular space trusses, sufficiently unbalanced in shape that they need to be temporarily propped until the third link bridge is installed between them (due to take place in April). They are also clad in mirror-polished 4mm thick stainless steel, the fabrication of which will have been quite a challenge.
Size: 5616px × 3744px
Location: Queen Elizabeth II Olympic Park, Stratford,
Photo credit: © John Gaffen 2 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 4mm, abstract, bridge, bridges, carpenters, central, elizabeth, footbridge, ii, linking, lock, metal, mirror-finished, mirror-polished, mirrored, olympic, park, patterns, polished, queen, reflections, stainless, steel, stratford, thick
