‘Humble pragmatism’ - Swedish architecture magazine on new bridge in Tyresta National Park

The new bridge in Tyresta National Park, a collaboration between Gottlieb Paludan Architects, AFRY Sweden, and Stráský, Hustý a partneři from the Czech Republic, is featured over six pages in the latest issue of the Swedish magazine Arkitektur. The article highlights the bridge's integration of functional design with the natural environment and the design of the new connection, which complements the park's beautiful landscape. The bridge improves accessibility within the national park, meets practical needs, and at the same time ensures the preservation of the natural beauty of the area. Arkitektur recognizes the project's efforts to harmoniously combine simplicity and elegance.

The article notes that the bridge's “visual simplicity conceals an advanced construction,” and attributes its success to a “humble pragmatism” in its design:

“The bridge represents a classic Swedish modernist approach to nature, humble and pragmatic. It is a way of looking at construction that modernism derived from its admiration for what Gustaf Näsström, in his book Svensk Funktionalism (1930), calls the functionalism of popular architecture. Here, however, it is executed by Copenhagen architects. But modernism's relationship with nature has never been a particularly Swedish story.

In the 1950s, American architecture writer Esther McCoy described a Californian architecture that was to become classic. One of her texts was about R. M. Schindler's architecture: 'It's like a bird that has just landed on the ground, its wings still outstretched, but immediately part of the earth.' That's pretty much how this bridge feels. It's not just a simple trick.”

Thomas Bonde-Hansen, Creative Director at Gottlieb Paludan Architects, says:

“This project is a great example of how an ambitious client, well-thought-out design solutions, and dedicated collaboration can create new infrastructure that improves people's access to nature with minimal impact on local natural values.”

The bridge project is the result of Gottlieb Paludan Architects winning an open design competition with 27 entries in 2019. AFRY and Stráský, Hustý a partneři joined the team in the design and construction phases, and PEAB was the main contractor for the construction project.

Read the entire article online here: https://arkitektur.prenly.com/shared/article/nationalparkens-nya-funktionalism/0KKOkaac

If you would like to subscribe to or purchase individual issues of Arkitektur magazine, please follow this link: https://arkitektur.se/produkt/arkitektur-nr-5-2024/