Gamboa is a century-old district decaying in spite of its rich infrastructure. Presidente Vargas Av., one of the city’s widest and busiest avenues, imposes a physical barrier to its revitalization, revealing the need for a connection between both sides. In attempt to connect Gamboa with the major corporate buildings on the opposite side, a 207 meter-long covered footbridge was designed allowing both pedestrian crossing and bus-metro integration. Supported by only three long-span steel arches with entwined bases, two of which are 90 meter-long and one, 40 meter-long. Being close to world-famous Sambódromo, the 6 meter-tall soffit will allow float passage. Adequate lighting will guarantee the noble-metal tones of the structure to be enhanced at night, while during the day sunlight will liven up the metallic paint and its colors. The two main arches were entwined in order to allow the mandatory 6-meter clearance from road to footbridge soffit. This solution was possible due to the existing central road canal and its both respective sidewalks. The choice of the constructive methods and materials took local constraints into account. Aiming to disrupt traffic minimally, the steel structure enables part of the assembly to be produced elsewhere shortening the work at the construction site. The massive use of glass in the footbridge and its accesses represents both the search for transparency, and, as it is a public space, user’s safety. The lighting system adopted consists of a single melted aluminum self supported (5-meter span) rail which holds light-fixtures followed by emergence lighting, loudspeakers, and CCTV cameras. This system allows light beams to be cast directly to floors or soffits, favoring station vault views.
Posted on: Tue, 17 Sep 2013 07:33:56 +0000
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