Rochester Bridges

Architect：Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects

Location：Rochester, UK; | ;View Map

Project Year：2006

Category：Bridges

The design for the foot and cycle bridges at Blue Boar Creek and Corey Creek were won in an invited architectural competition held by Medway Renaissance and the Kent Architecture Centre.  

The Rochester Reed Crossings are inspired by the landscape of the existing tidal creek and by Rochester’s maritime tradition.  The first pair of bridges spans Blue Boar Creek, a small salt-water creek that will be landscaped as an estuarine habitat. Two slender decks curve across the salt marsh - one is intended for cyclists, the other for pedestrians.  

Each of these decks is supported by a series of glass fibre stems that create a metaphorical thicket of reeds – thicker and more intense at the entrance to the deck crossings. The close spacing of the stems enables the bridge decks to be very slender as they gently curve across the creek.  The stems are strategically placed at the entrance to the pedestrian crossing to prohibit cyclists from using the crossing. The stems sway gently in the wind so that visitors can enjoy moving through a kinetic landscape. 

The decks and balustrading are constructed using durable hardwood with a fine, dense grain and a dark golden colour.  The fabrication reflects both historic and contemporary boat construction.  The stems are constructed of fibreglass and glow subtly at night. The creek is in a tidal location and the salinity of the water is detected and reflected in the illumination of the stems - the more salty the water the more white the light, the more fresh the water the more blue the light.   Viewed across the River Medway the glowing thicket of stems at Blue Boar Creek presents a unique and iconic landmark announcing and promoting the Rochester Riverside Development. 

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