Almere Bicycle & Pedestrian Bridge
René van Zuuk Architekten

Photo ©Christian Richters

An urban hammock for an ambitious city center.

The Almere bridge spans the connecting waterway, between the open Weerwater and a little harbour for motorised boats, connecting two massive housing blocks located in the new city centre of Almere.

Designed as a neutral continuity between two buildings, the Silverline tower, designed by Claus & Kaan, and Van Zuuk's Block 16, the bridge has its own identity, with none of the directions from the surroundings being emphasized.


Photo ©Christian Richters

The cable-stayed mast structure refers to the image of sailing boats, reviving the maritime atmosphere of the harbour area. To enhance the slim appearance the two traffic flows are separated. After all two narrow lanes look more slender than one wide deck.


Photo ©Christian Richters

The tensegrity-like structure consists of five double beams, suspended to the adjacent masts with tension cables, supporting the five masts. The two fixed supports of the bridge are being formed by double slanting columns on a concrete footing in the water, directly supporting the two outer beams.

The tension cables continue under the bridge where they are connected to the mast ends protruding one metre below deck level. Pretension of the cables provides the bridge with a higher rigidity. The eleven metres high masts are equipped with recessed light fittings so they also serve as lighting pylons.


Photo courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten

Photo courtesy René van Zuuk Architekten

Both sides of the anodised aluminium corrugated decking of the traffic lanes are provided with steel cable guardrails. The inward leaning parapets avoid collisions with the masts or guy cables.


Photo courtesy René van Zuuk ArchitektenPlan