OOZN’s Sheares Island concept proposes to utilise the iconic Benjamin Sheares road bridge to support and shelter a new pedestrian and cycle superhighway whilst re imagining the pontoons as shaded island gardens. The new pedestrian link will connect the 21km East coast park directly into the Northern City Centre creating an unbroken cycle superhighway from The North Eastern tip of the island at Changi point directly to the Singapopre flyer. Benjamin Sheares bridge is a 1.8km elevated concrete road bridge which brings the East Coast Parkway into the City. The highest bridge section rises to twenty metres offering spectacular views of the CBD and Marina Bay creating a dramatic introduction to the City from the East and Changi Airport.
A crossing at this point will allow a direct pedestrian and cycleway connection into the Northern CBD from the East, in effect creating a pedestrian version of the East Coast Parkway, boosting commuter numbers and decreasing traffic load on the bridge above. The new pedestrian link will connect the 21km East coast park directly into the Northern City Centre creating an unbroken cycle superhighway from The North Eastern tip of the island at Changi point directly to the Singapopre flyer. The concept of using the existing bridge brings numerous benefits, including increased sustainability and reduced cost by negating the need to build new pontoons whilst the existing concrete road deck will provide weather protection from the tropical elements.
From an urban planning perspective the symbiotic design will improve sight lines by eliminating the possibility of visual clutter that could be created by a standalone structure. The physical design of the pedestrian bridge is intended as a simple lightweight structure in harmony with the elegant design of the existing road bridge, the creation of lushly planted islands on the pontoons will provide the city with two unique shaded garden spaces. The Sheares Island concept is truly sustainable in both construction and operation, by creating a pedestrian and cycle super highway the City will see a reduction in commuter road traffic from the East whilst the concept of adapting the original structure will dramatically reduce the energy embodied during construction. Sourc
Location: East Coast Parkway, Singapore
Architects: +OOZN
Project Leader: Peter Morris
Project Team: Rafal Kapusta, Stephanie Gunawan, J Panelo, Chipik Alsi Tuinti
Year: 2015
Images: Courtesy of +OOZN