Visitors to Washington will soon be able to cross the Anacostia River via 'park bridge'. The design by architecture firm OMA and landscape architect 'OLIN' provides the '11th Street Bridge Park' with green spaces, viewing points and 'learning locations' for which sustainable technology is also planned.
The 11th Street Bridge Park project is led by OMA partner Jason Long. Further contributors to the bridge's design are WRA, Delon Hampton and Associates and local Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR). The design is the result of an architectural competition held in 2014, for which planning permission was recently issued. Construction is expected to start in 2021.
Flat X-shape
Not particularly many details about the project are currently available, OMA could not yet share the expected physical dimensions, for example, but we already know that the bridge will have a flat X-shape. In addition, two large raised ramps for pedestrians are planned. These ramps will contain viewing points and will flow into waterfalls that will provide cooling in the immediate area.
There will also be gardens, an amphitheatre, lawns, a children's playground, a café and an educational centre. Solar panels are planned to power the educational centre. For sustainability reasons, rainwater harvesting is additionally being considered.
The bridge will sit on top of the piers of the original bridge. This required an intensive feasibility study so that the load-bearing capacity could be tested. A similar situation occurred in the 'Little Island in New York City' project, where an existing pier structure is being integrated with a new structure.
After the success of the High Line in New York City, these kinds of elevated urban parks are currently very popular with architects and urban planners. Other examples include 'Seoullo 7017 Skygarde' by MVRDV in Seoul and 'The Tide' by Diller Scofidio + Renfro planned in London.
