Shortlisted concept designs for Tintagel Bridge Design Competition unveiled

English Heritage released today [December 3, 2015] images of the shortlisted concept designs produced by the six teams vying to win the Tintagel Castle: Bridge Design Competition.

The images will go on public display at the Tourist Information Centre in Tintagel village from tomorrow until December 11, as well as being available digitally through the dedicated microsite.

The winning team for this spectacular circa £4m project will be chosen by an eminent expert jury.

English Heritage’s brief to the finalist teams was that the winning design must be ‘…a bridge that is of its place, a bridge that, with its structural elegance and beauty, is in harmony with its extraordinary setting and landscape’. Twenty-eight metres higher than the current crossing, the new bridge will open up exhilarating views of Tintagel, the surrounding coastline, and the Atlantic seascape as it traces the path – now lost through collapse and erosion – of the original land-link between the mainland and the headland. The footbridge is expected to transform the visitor experience, improving understanding of, and access to, the site.

Kate Mavor, chief executive of English Heritage, said,

‘These concept designs bring the reality of a new bridge so much closer. The competition is all about finding the right team but the concept designs help us to visualise each team’s approach and how a new bridge will complement this exceptional landscape.’

Graham Morrison, chair of the jury, said,

‘Here are six very different and clear ideas, all beautifully presented; we are delighted with the response to the brief. Any of these teams is capable of making a worthy addition to the setting. The jury is very much looking forward to the detailed assessment process and, ultimately, selecting a winner.’

Malcolm Reading, architect and competition organiser, said,

‘Designing a bridge for such a challenging environment is a daunting test but these proposals haven’t compromised – they show a love of materials and engineering panache. The structure needs to say it all in a glance but it must also prove satisfying to use, economically-sound, practical to build, and have a healthy life-span.’

Announced in September 2015, the shortlisted teams are (in alphabetical order with lead consultant first):

• Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes with Terrell (France)

• Marks Barfield Architects with Flint and Neill (UK)

• Ney & Partners with William Matthews Associates (Belgium)

• Niall McLaughlin Architects with Price and Myers (UK)

• RFR and Jean-François Blassel Architecte, with EngineersHRW and WSP (France)

• WilkinsonEyre with Atelier One (UK)

Detailed descriptions of each of the six proposals are given in the teams’ media statements featured in the online gallery.

The concept designs will go on public display at the Tourist Information Centre in Tintagel village from December 4 to December 11, 2015, from 11am to 6pm daily. Public feedback on the designs may be given via comment cards at the exhibition or by email. Feedback will be passed to the jury, who meet to interview the teams and select a winner early in the New Year.

At the competition’s first stage, 137 applications were received from 27 different countries, including the United States, Russia, India, Japan, South Africa and Chile.

Attracting over 200,000 visitors annually, Tintagel Castle is one of the most spectacular historic sites within English Heritage’s care. This scheduled ancient monument is inextricably linked to the legend of King Arthur and has been prized throughout history for its elemental beauty and spirit of place within this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Consultations on the design of the new bridge will start early next year in advance of consent applications later in the year. The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2019.