Dissing & Weitling and WSP submitted the winning entry, which will be made from lime-wood and glass with a metal roof.
Above and below: Images by Dissing & Weitling
The footbridge has been designed to connect the station building and platforms at Sundsvall's central station. 'Portamento’ was one of the six proposals submitted to the competition, which was organised by the Swedish Transport Administration and Architects Sweden.
The proposals were judged on design, function, sustainability and development potential as well as feasibility and management. The jury members chose what they said was an “architecturally exciting proposal with a good potential for development”.
“We've designed a bridge with respect for the significant heritage environment in the area,” said Jesper Henriksen, architect and partner at Dissing & Weitling. “We didn’t just want to create a practical connection, we also aimed at a safe, sustainable and inclusive transition which gives something back to the place. The materials and elegance of the footbridge, and its twisting geometry form a significant figure in the otherwise very rigid station landscape, enriching a unique location."
“The jury’s process was very rewarding and educational and they made it clear that the Portamento proposal met the criteria best,” said Anders Vilhelmsson, project manager at the Swedish Transport Administration and chair of the jury for competition. “The proposal is based on elegant solutions, and the design centres on the passengers."
He added: “We can see a design rich in experience and concern with regard to both the urban landscape and the cultural environment. The architecture offers a playful footbridge without match in any other station. Towards the south, the footbridge could be extended in the future towards Björneborgsgatan in an opposite turning curve.”
The climate footprint of the bridge’s construction has been kept down by optimising the amount of materials used. The foundations for the winning design were also deemed to be less extensive than for the other proposals, and several parts of the bridge can be built separately and lifted into place, thereby minimising the disruption to trains.
