One of these crazy bridge designs is about to be approved by Wandsworth council to connect Nine Elms and Pimlico
A design by Ove Arup & Partners with Hopkins Architects and Grant Associates (Source: Wandsworth Council)
After it revealed the crazy designs submitted for a bridge between Nine Elms and Pimlico last month, Wandsworth Council today narrowed its options down to four. They may be among the least zany – but one thing is nevertheless clear: bridge designers aren't into straight lines.
The council said the competition attracted 74 entries, which stretched from the sublime (a bridge with a constant, cascading waterfall flowing from it) to the ridiculous (an intricate "flame" design in purple, red and yellow).
Ove Arup & Partners with AL_A, Gross Max, Equals Consulting and Movement Strategies
The final shortlist includes two projects led by Ove Arup & Partners, while projects led by Buro Happold and Bystrup are also shortlisted.
A panel including architect Graham Stirk and engineer Henry Bardsley said they "considered feedback" from more than 1,000 people who responded to the initial proposals.
Less wiggly – less fun? This design is by Buro Happold, Marks Barfield Architect, J&L Gibbons Landscape Architects, Gardiner and Theobald
The council said it will decide on the final design in the autumn. The bridge will be paid for by £26m set aside from the transformation of Nine Elms Lane – which includes the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station.
Cllr Ravi Govinda, Wandsworth Council's leader, suggested the final choice will come down to technical specifications.
The devil will be in the detail and the next stage will show us whether these four highly skilled and innovative design teams can meet the complex challenges this project presents.
Mist supplied separately: a design by Bystrup Architecture Design and Engineering, with Robin Snell & Partners, Sven Ole Hansen, Aarsleff and AF Lighting