The bridge will be built at one of the most spectacular historic sites within English Heritage’s care. Competition organiser, Malcolm Reading Consultants, received 137 submissions by last week’s deadline. UK practices predominated but almost 40% of submissions were international. Design teams from 26 other countries, including the United States, Russia, India, Japan, South Africa and Chile, applied.
Tintagel’s divided landscapes were once united by a narrow strip of land, now lost. The competition, which was launched last month, is for the design of a new bridge that will follow the path of this original crossing (link opens in new tab).
The new 72m-span bridge will open up new views of Tintagel, the coastline and the sea as it will be 28m higher than the current crossing.
Kate Mavor, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “We’re delighted that the design community has responded so enthusiastically to this project. Tintagel Castle is undeniably one of the most spectacular sites in our care, a thrilling combination of the man-made and natural world. We’re really looking forward to seeing the shortlist.”
Malcolm Reading, architect and competition organiser, said: “Bridge design is a kinship of specialised engineers and highly creative architects, typically working in collaboration, and the Tintagel competition has intrigued designers worldwide. The evocative setting and compelling brief give this project an exceptional profile, and while it has attracted some brilliant specialists, we’re also pleased that newer studios are in the mix too.”
According to English Heritage’s brief, the winning design must be “elegant, structurally daring and beautiful in its own right, while being sensitively balanced with the landscape and exceptional surroundings".
The competition jury, chaired by Graham Morrison, founding partner of Allies & Morrison, will meet in August to draw up a shortlist of six teams.
