rintala eggertsson composes tintra footbridge in norway

rintala eggertsson composes footbridge in norway using wood and weathering steel

rintala eggertsson architects has completed a rhythmic pedestrian bridge over the river vosso in western norway. the scheme replaces a previously existing structure, which had been destroyed by a flood in 2014. the following spring, local authorities invited teams to participate in tenders for the new construction, a competition won by rintala eggertsson, alongside IKM steel & facade, and SK langeland. the ‘tintra footbridge’ has been built using a combination of weathering steel, and wood for the floors, walls and ceilings.

the bridge spans the river vosso in western norway
all images by dag jenssen

the brief called for a design that would provide enough visibility for pedestrians wishing to observe the natural environment. the previous bridge also allowed locals to fish in the river, bringing the community together. this was also something the municipality wanted to incorporate in the new structure. rintala eggertsson’s design has been conceived as a rhythmic play of modules. these individual sections seek to reduce the monotony of crossing the river, forming a timeline of separate intervals. the spans are based on the distance between the already existing pillars — the only remains of the old bridge.

the structure replaces a bridge that was destroyed by a flood in 2014

taking musical cues, the main steel structure forms the bridge’s base rhythm, while the wooden structure provides a secondary movement — comparable to a score composed for percussion instruments. two cantilevered ‘rooms’ on top of the pillars generate pauses in this otherwise regular rhythm, allowing pedestrians to stop and enjoy the landscape. these viewing areas also serve as fishing platforms, where anglers can throw out line without interrupting the flow of pedestrian traffic.

the design retains the original concrete pillars

the choice of materials also has logistical benefits. weathering steel and accoya wood are strong and durable, and will not need to be maintained over coming years. by adding a roof, the design eliminates the need for snow plowing, which is often a complicated issue for pedestrian bridges.

the main steel structure forms the bridge’s base rhythm

‘the old bridge which collapsed in the river flooding was a suspension bridge with a clear visual language,’ explain the architects. ‘that clarity was an important point of departure for us in the design of the new bridge. but given the two main materials, steel and wood, it became natural to differentiate between the inside and the outside and offer the two materials different roles so to play. the steel would express the raw forces going through the bearing structure on the outside and the other would communicate sensorial information on a human scale on the inside.’

the use of timber forms a secondary element

individual sections seek to reduce the monotony of crossing the river

a roof eliminates the need for snow plowing

two cantilevered ‘rooms’ generate pauses in the otherwise regular rhythm

the viewing platforms allow pedestrians to stop and enjoy the landscape

spans are based on the distance between the already existing pillars

‘tintra footbridge’ illuminated at night

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rintala eggertsson architects tintra footbridge voss norway designboom

project info:

client: voss municipality — sigmund gjernes
location: russarvegen 11, 5700 voss, norway
contractor: IKM stål & fasade — helge nedreskår, helle erevik
architect: rintala eggertsson architects — dagur eggertsson, vibeke jenssen, sami rintala and polona šušterič
engineering: SK langeland — roar vatne
foundations: voss bygg & anlegg — ivar haug
transportation: bergen montering — arild tvedt
light design: iGuzzini norway — ida hågensen
photography: dag jenssen