footbridge over the vispa, viège

client :

town of viège

program :

new footbridge over the vispa

dates :

competition 2010,

2nd round 2012, 1st place

execution 2014

civil engineer :

alp andenmatten lauber & partner ag, viège

the new footbridge connects the area containing the town’s schools with its sports facilities, which are on opposite sides of the river vispa. the landscaped nature of the place is defined by the presence of two rectilinear walls, more than a kilometre long, next to the roads that run alongside the river. through its design, the footbridge attempts to retain the landscaped aspects of the place, in other words, to avoid breaking the continuity of the landscaping elements which characterise the locality. in order to do this, the footbridge is constructed at the same level as the existing paths, the concrete supports integrate perfectly with the physical nature of the embankments and add to the strength of the structure in the event of flooding. in longitudinal profile, the footbridge has a curved shape, in accord with its use by pedestrians. two filigree beams running between the supports form railings, while the deck stiffens the whole structure.