The 90 meter long descending route along the old Maasdike is designed as a sophisticated and subtle swinging route through the authentic landscape. The experience of the user is one of the main design themes. The new bridge connects the city centre of Maassluis with the new built sustainable Lely Campus, some suburban areas and the surrounding countryside of Maassluis. The project has been commissioned by the Lely Group and was created within an integral and multidisciplinary process.
plein06 Urban Design and Landscape Architects, Lely Group, Gebiedsmanagers, Waterpas, the council of Maassluis, Water authority Delfland and Fibercore Europe were able to answer all the restrictions, obstacles and limiting conditions around the water damming and cultural historical Weverskade into an innovative, refreshing, functional and sustainable design.
‘The bridge is a classic example of high-tech architecture. Top design with flowing and unimaginable shapes, which can only be achieved with innovative, strong and flexible materials like composite. This crystal-clear bridge is almost a fluid construction that follows the rhythm of the surrounding green landscape silently and even seem to redefine it.’
The composite bridge is maintenance free and will be guaranteed for 50 years. Because of the use of lightweight materials, the foundation of the bridge can be lighter, which means a cost reduction. Because of this technique it was possible to keep the 100 year old willow trees, the authentic landscape structures, but also keep the water damming bodies of the dikes. The bridge is the starting point of a new era with more freedom in shape and new, sustainable, high-tech materials with unlimited possibilities for construction and infrastructure.