Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes
05/03/2015.
[Les Evouettes-Vaud-Valais] Switzerland
metalocus, DANIEL MADERA
metalocus, DANIEL MADERA
Study located in the north of Geneva comes us this forceful bridge that tears as a perfect red arrow the Swiss landscape in which it is located to connect both shores of the river Rhône.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Comparing the size with other constructions. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Section. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Section. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Section. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Section. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Diagram of moments. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Plan. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Stages of construction. Rhône Bridge by meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre. Click above to see larger.
Image during construction. Rhône Bridge por meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Image during construction. Rhône Bridge por meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Image during construction. Rhône Bridge por meier + associés architectes. Image © Yves Andre.
Meier + associés architectes has been the manager of constructing a bridge of 450 meters of length to cross Rhône river. For the design, they used the mathematical beginning of harmonic curves, which allowed that the bridge should acquire an apparent improper lightness of a bridge of such a magnitude. The supports with V-shape and the variable section of the structure notice this property.
Description of project by meier + associés architectes
This 450-metre bridge has an effect on its surrounding landscape that is anything but trivial. Even though it stands just a few metres from the ground, the impact of this large object is significant. In the same way that the “vertical architecture” of a skyscraper interacts with its urban skyline, the bridge’s “horizontal architecture” interacts with the land. In this case, the land comprises heterogeneous fields, a road, a railway track, embankments, a canal and a river.
The concept for the Rhône Bridge is that of a continuous object that reflects the distribution of different static loads. This unity of form “strides” over irregularities in the terrain and interacts logically with the location by progressively increasing its span in line with the mathematical principle of harmonic curves. The 74 metres required to cross the Rhône are thus integrated into this quasimathematical logic, in which the maximum load merges “naturally” into the whole structure with no noticeable visual effort. The colour of the concrete from which the bridge is built strikes a “red line” through the landscape.
The shape of the roadway was derived from a desire to combine curve of moments with form, where the bevelled facets reflect the changing span. The structure is designed as a shell that reflects the different static loads by catching the light in a distinct way. The supporting piles adopt a similar principle, with their V-shape design, and a angled “bilge” form that is both repetitive and progressive. Lastly, the two abutments that mark each end of the bridge, as well as the anchorage points and returns, are rather like “open hands” on which the roadway rests.
CREDITS. TECHNICAL SHEET.-
Architects.- Meier + associés architectes.
Collaborators.- R Niogret, AI Pepermans, JC Mathen, JB Lamballe. Civil engineer.- Conus & Bignens S.A.
Client.- Etat de Vaud, Etat du Valais.
Dates.- Double-stage competition.- 2005-2006 (1st ranking). Project period.- 2007-2008. Completion.- 2009 - 2012.
Length.- 480 m.
Programme.- Bridge over the river Rhône.
More information
PHILIPPE MEIER
Philippe Meier, was born in Geneva in 1962, attended the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne between 1981 and 1987, the year in which he qualified as an architect. For the next ten years or so, he practiced as a naval architect in partnership with Sébastien Schmidt, the two sharing the Bourse Fédérale des Arts Appliqués in 1993. After gaining experience in Geneva (with J.-M. Lamunière and Brodbeck & Roulet), Lausanne (Atelier Commun) and Rome (A. Anselmi), he set up as an independent architect based in Geneva and Coppet (Vaud) in 1990. Philippe Meier was assistant to Professor Patrick Mestelan in the Architecture Department of the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne between 1990 and 2000. From 2003 onwards, he has held successive visiting professorships at the Schools of Architecture in Strasbourg, Nancy and Lyon, and the Architecture Section of the EPFL. He also edited the magazine Archimade between 1993 and 1998. He is an occasional contributor to publications such as Matières (EPFL), AS (Architecture Suisse) and Werk, Bauen + Wohnen. A member of the SIA and FAS, he was affiliated to Oeuvre (OEV) between 1998 and 2003.
The office is located on the north of Geneva, the workshop has invested on 2002 on a old lighters factory made on the sixties. Established since 1991in the same area, the agency has over fifteen years of professional activities in all areas of architecture.
