Walking on a spider's web

Sofiero is former summer retreat for the Swedish royal family near Helsingborg, Southern Sweden. The park belonging to the castle, is a major tourist attraction. It is divided in two by a deep ravine and the present owner, the City of Helsingborg, wanted to built a footbridge that connected the two parts of the park. At the same time it should serve as a viewing platform from where an outstanding collection of rhododendruns, that grow in the microclimate of the ravine, could be admired. Three architectural firms were invited to present proposals for the bridge and Dissing+Weitling's proposal was selected for execution.

The goal was a bridge a bridge, as light and transparent as possible, that complemented the surroundings without overpowering them and at the same time a bridge that was an attraction in itself and turned the crossing into an event. The solution was a beam bridge spanning the ravine with a single span. The deck, which has an S-shape that matches the winding footpaths of the park, is cantilevered from a straight steelbox, which is supported by an underslung catenary cable. The unloaded bridge is in balance and the steelbox is restrained against torsion at the abutments to maintain equilibrium during live loading.

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