Design competition showcases four proposals to reinvent Clapham's railway bridge

"Plans to refurbish a tired railway bridge as a gateway into Clapham have released details of the shortlisted designs. Organised jointly by the Clapham Society and This is Clapham (Clapham BID), the design competition aims to turn the railway bridge into an "inspiring gateway" into the area. Although it sits next to Clapham High Street and Clapham North stations, the Clapham Society says the existing bridge is purely functional infrastructure that offers little contribution to the public realm."

"GS Architecture This design clads the railway bridge in a metal mesh, leaving a circular opening beneath it to show off the steelwork (even if it does look like a hole in a pair of tights). Polysmiths Cladding the bridge in steel bars and the side walls in a new wall that will be painted with artwork. Makower Studio in collaboration with Common Works, Velocity, Light Follows Behaviour, and Aspect Studios Appears to be a back-lit wall lining the bridge underpass."

"Polysmiths Cladding the bridge in steel bars and the side walls in a new wall that will be painted with artwork. Makower Studio in collaboration with Common Works, Velocity, Light Follows Behaviour, and Aspect Studios Appears to be a back-lit wall lining the bridge underpass. Peerada Liew Studio with Nuraddin Kazimov Artwork cladding under the bridge with a matching name design along the top. There will be an exhibition in Clapham early next year to show off the designs locally."

A design competition organised by the Clapham Society and This is Clapham (Clapham BID) seeks to transform a functional railway bridge into an inspiring gateway into Clapham. The bridge sits beside Clapham High Street and Clapham North stations but currently offers little contribution to the public realm. Four shortlisted proposals explore different treatments: metal mesh cladding with a circular opening to reveal steelwork; steel-bar cladding with painted sidewall artwork; a back-lit underpass wall; and artwork cladding with a matching name design along the top. An exhibition will display the shortlisted designs locally early next year.

Read at ianVisits