"Passerelle du Millénaire", Paris

The “passerelle du Millénaire” is a collaborative design between Explorations architecture and Terrell consulting engineers. The footbridge is located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. It crosses a former industrial dock that was recently transformed into a mixed used neighbourhood. The footbridge relates to both the industrial history of the site as well as more recent urban developments such as the iconic Parc de la Villette. Because the crossing is located right on the boundary between two cities (Paris and Aubervilliers), Explorations architecture proposed that the bridge be the combination of two “intertwined arms”, ie two separate structures joining above the waterway. The entire footbridge is painted a bright red in order to make it iconic in the cityscape. The structure is fully accessible to handicapped users without the use of elevators resulting in very long approach ramps. It demonstrates how bold architectural design and slender bridge engineering can be combined to deliver an elegant piece of urban infrastructure. The footbridge is more than a simple crossing, it is a place for many to sit and enjoy along a regenerated canal. It cultivates a debate about how visible and long a city footbridge should be.

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