Footbridge over the Tirón River in Haro (Spain). A Sustainable design inspired by the wine culture

The town of Haro, located in the northern part of Spain, is one of the most relevant sites of La Rioja region, well known because of its important high-quality red wine production. Wine is the vital and cultural expression of the town and is at the same time its main tourist interest, as it hosts some of the oldest and best known wine cellars of the region. The new footbridge is part of a pedestrian connection to link the historic centre with the district where most of these cellars are located. The design intends to be attractive, adapted to the soft topography of the river banks, sustainable, strongly related with the wine culture of the region, but without forgetting elegance as a main target. These objectives were achieved with an innovative three-span variable-depth beam design, made of stainless steel and with a composite-wood decking. An efficient structural scheme and the reduction of maintenance costs make compatible the use of high-quality materials with a reasonable budget.