World’s best challenged to design Stratford bridge
The gauntlet is to be thrown down before many of the world’s top designers and architects to become the inspiration behind a new bridge for Stratford.
Cannes in the South of France is this week providing the launch venue for a competition to take place tomorrow to find a design for the new pedestrian and cycle bridge proposed in Stratford.
Each year the Warwickshire Investment Partnership team with Advantage West Midlands exhibit at MIPIM, the largest international property show in the world, to seek investment into Midlands’ towns and cities. For the first time Stratford will be featured, and a breakfast launch of the bridge competition will be held tomorrow.
All architects and engineers attending the show have been invited to the breakfast presentation, and the meeting was almost instantly booked up. John Deegan, Director of Environment and Economy at Warwickshire County Council said this demonstrates the really significant interest the competition will generate.
The contract to design the bridge falls under European procurement rules, meaning that the contract will be advertised across Europe.
John Deegan said: “I hope that the European tender will draw in many prestigious architects and engineers, including those from local companies. Stratford-upon-Avon has an international reputation, and there is no doubt the prospect of designing a new bridge for the town will be extremely attractive to many architectural practices. I hope that as a result, we will get the very best design.”
Chris Saint, Warwickshire County Council’s Cabinet member for Economic Development, said: “The £2m funding for the bridge will come from phase one of the World Class Stratford bid. It is only one of many projects that will come forward over the next few months that I believe will be of a world class standard; befitting a town of international repute.”
The bridge competition will be run by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and will be judged by a jury panel of experts and lay people, with a widespread public consultation informing the process. A design should be agreed within a year, with construction possibly starting in 2008.