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Bridge over the Besós River in Sant Adriá de Besós

A bridge with a staggered section to achieve a wide view towards the sea, giving quality to the urban space.

Pont sobre el riu Besòs
Pont sobre el riu Besòs

Bridge over the Besòs River

The proximity of the sea and its possible view from the bridge draws a staggered section. The asymmetry that was accentuated by dimensioning the sidewalk as a pedestrian promenade giving continuity to the side walks of the Besòs River, gives quality urban spaces focused on the user and providing better connectivity in the city.

Authors

Batlleiroig Arquitectura. Enric Batlle Durany, Joan Roig i Duran – Architect

Collaborators

Jordi Torrella – Civil Engineer

Promoter

AMB – Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona

Project status

Built

Start date

1986

Finish date

1988

Scope

130 ml
©Hisao Suzuki
← The deck on the landward side of the bridge terminates in a concrete podium that overlooks and emphasizes one of the lateral walkways along the riverbed. / ©Hisao Suzuki

The proximity of the sea and its possible contemplation from the bridge, as well as the diversification of circulations to accentuate urban quality, are the design criteria of this bridge over the Besós River in Barcelona.

The bridge is divided into three platforms, sea pavement, roadway and mountain pavement, which are staggered asymmetrically in the manner of an amphitheatre. This asymmetry is accentuated when the sea side pavement is designed as a promenade, providing it with benches and protecting it from the wind. The pavement on the mountain side is reduced until it becomes a more dynamic walkway, which, being higher than the rest of the walkways, provides pedestrians with the risk factor that any crossing over a river entails.

This asymmetrical, staggered section, which ends at two equal exit points for all the crossings, creates three different radii in the elevation. The concrete construction makes the terraces more flexible, gently curving them without altering their geometry. The supports are formally and geometrically independent of the decks, accentuating their lightness.