New London Architecture

Espérance Bridge

Built

The Esperance Bridge is one of the final elements of the Kings Cross development in central London. The 25m sculptural steel footbridge spans over the Regents Canal to connect to the wider site.

NEW LONDON AWARDS 2022

NEW LONDON AWARDS 2022

Shortlisted in the TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE category

Following the restoration and reopening of Coal Drops Yard in 2018, The Espérance Bridge represents the final step of reinstating the heritage of this part of King's Cross. The new footbridge spans 25m over the canal, from the Goods Way pavement to an elevated corner of Granary Square. Clearance requirements dictated an ‘above deck’ structure and the desire for openness favoured a truss form. In the spirit of industrial bridges built in this area in the past, design iterations focused on efficiency, honesty, and functionality with an emphasis on craft and the expression of structural forces. Components express their alternately compressive and tensile load requirements. Nodal connections are carefully sculpted transitions between elements. The repetitive modular form created a seemingly complex assembly out of a series of repetitive cells. In this way, a typically humble truss was elevated far beyond expectations into a sculptural object which is still true to its function.

Vote for this project in the ‘People’s Choice Award’. The voting deadline is 1 November 2022.


Project information

Status

Built

Borough

Camden

Size

98 sq m

Completion

July 2021


Location

11 Goods Way, London N1C 4DP, UK


Team Credits

Architect

Moxon

Client

Argent KCCLP

Contractor

Galldris

Lighting Designer

Studio 29

Steel Supplier

SH Structures


Last updated on

24/06/2022


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