knight architects + WSP: gemma regalis bridge, helsinki

knight architects + WSP: gemma regalis bridge, helsinki

specialists knight architects and leading structural engineers WSP finland have won an open design competition for a 3km-long bridge in helsinki that will link the new waterside community of kruunuvuorenranta directly to the heart of finland’s capital city, creating a long-lasting structure synonymous with the surrounding metropolis. the connecting bridge will be used by trams, cyclists and pedestrians and the crossing will be the longest bridge structure in the country.

entitled ‘gemma regalis’, the symmetrical cable bridge features a distinctive central 135m-tall pylon in the shape of a tall slender diamond, referencing the historic crown ownership of the bay area, whose multi-faceted surfaces have been designed to catch light and shadow by day and night. equally recognizable as a silhouette, the unique pylon forms a dynamic relationship with the two other landmarks in helsinki: the distinctive dome of helsinki cathedral and the tower of the hanasaari power station. the architecture supports two 250m spans which offer wide clear views of the low-lying coastal landscape at water level.

the bridge seen in context during winter

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