Kringlumyra Footbridge
Two adjacent recreational areas in Reykjavík were separated by six lanes of highway that prevented their full enjoyment. The Kringlumyrar footbridge was designed to connect these areas for walking and bicycle traffic.
The site is between a low valley and the head of a small fjord. It has an excellent microclimate that has made it a popular location for walkers. The highway cuts across the fjord separating the sea from the sheltered valley. The design of the bridge attempts to heal the wound of the highway by extending the ambience of the ground condition over the road. By adjusting the footpath planning in the vicinity the approach to the bridge is controlled with respect to an exit loop from the highway and a mature woodland area. The approaches generated the bent plan of the bridge and this together with the angled section attributes a flowing three-dimensional form to the construction. This quality is accentuated by the high northern handrail forming a screen to the traffic racing below and shelter from the chilling northern wind. The handrail also directs the view towards the ocean which, commanding the attention of users, imparts an uncommon serenity. In effect the bridge is more of a flying footpath than a bridge.
For drivers, the bridge appears as a gossamer scarf lightly draped across the bottom of the valley recalling the will-o-the-wisp that commonly drifts across this section of the road.
Client : City of Reykjavík / Public Roads Administration
Architects : Studio Granda
Structural Engineers : Línuhönnun
