Jeff Wells: Spanning the gap between art and artful engineering

The Hillcrest Road bridge, which has been lovingly dubbed the Pukeko Bridge. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Ten years ago the concept of an architect working 100 per cent on bridge projects in New Zealand would have been inconceivable.

But during the past decade the New Zealand Transport Agency has grown to recognise the importance of improving the urban design of new motorway construction. And that has included bringing architects into the design process.

That sea change was certainly reflected in this year's New Zealand Institute of Architects awards when, unusually, two bridges captured awards at national level. The Hillcrest Rd Bridge, on the Northern Gateway tollroad, which I worked on, and the Liardet St Overpass in New Plymouth.

While I believe I'm currently the only architect in New Zealand working solely on bridge design, the huge amount of transport infrastructure development planned for the coming decades, particularly for Auckland, makes it likely that ever more architects will become involved in this specialist discipline.

I recently attended the Austroads Bridge Conference, held in New Zealand for the first time. I particularly enjoyed the presentation by structural engineer and bridge specialist Michel Virlogeux, former head of the Large Bridge Division Steel and Concrete of Setra, the technical service of the French Highway Administration. Mr Virlogeux's work has included the acclaimed Millau Viaduct and the Normandy Bridge.

Where the design of a bridge did not reflect the logical flow of forces into the ground Virlogeux described it as "stu-peed", while those which did not measure up aesthetically were dismissed as "ug-lee".

New Zealand's strong engineering traditions have ensured not too many stu-peed bridges have been built here but there have been some pretty dull ones which do nothing to lift our urban landscape.

A century ago engineers such as Brunel were building extremely beautiful bridges but the discipline has evolved to be more about satisfying codes and bridge design manuals, and using standard components in standard ways. An architect's training can bring a stronger aesthetic element into the mix.

Creating a beautiful bridge requires a major team effort - a good feel for structures on the part of the architect and engineers who are open to a design process where consideration of aesthetics is a major driver.

While design led bridges may be a fairly recent phenomenon in New Zealand, internationally, it has long been recognised that bridges have the ability to inspire communities through their dual role as connectors and as significant pieces of sculpture.

An excellent recent example of this is the Castleford Bridge in a Yorkshire mining town in Britain. Castleford had struggled socially and economically following the collapse of the mining industry.

But its stunning multi-award winning pedestrian bridge designed by London architects McDowell + Benedetti has had a galvanising and revitalising effect. The bridge's pedestrian seating has provided a picturesque public meeting place and it has become an economic hub for the riverside area.

The more bridges I have worked on - over 20 completed so far, including five pedestrian/cycle bridges on new sections of the Western Ring Route alone - the more I have realised the special significance they hold for communities.

Making bridges which are distinctive as well as functional helps communities take ownership of them.

On the other hand, the purpose of the Hillcrest Rd Bridge is to enable the owners to reconnect their land divided by the Northern Toll Road. But for the toll-paying motorist it functions as a motorway artwork and within weeks of opening it had been christened "The Pukeko Bridge" on account of its slender red legs and its cheeky sag, a memory of the original landform and the method of construction.

When the Beachcroft Ave Footbridge, which was designed as part of the Manukau Harbour Crossing project, was officially opened by John Banks in May, the local community turned out en-masse to be among the first to walk across it. They brought their children and their dogs and a feelgood festive atmosphere prevailed.

The Clarks Lane footbridge I have been working on as part of the Hobsonville Deviation is bright yellow and features ceramic artwork from the local community. It hasn't opened yet but has already featured in a music video for the most recent single released by the band The Naked and Famous.

Many bridges have been built in Auckland in recent years and many more are in the pipeline.

There is great potential for them to play a major role in urban regeneration. Having a colourfu or sculptural bridge encourages communities to think about how the area they live looks and how it should be used.

Jeff Wells is an architect with Jasmax in Auckland.