Explorations Architecture

Millénaire Footbridge

Millénaire Footbridge
© Michel Denancé

MILLÉNAIRE FOOTBRIDGE

Explorations Architecture

ARCHITECTS
Explorations Architecture

LOCATION
Paris, France

CATEGORY
Pedestrian Bridge

LENGTH
180m

MANUFACTURERS
Sill, Acqpa

YEAR
2016

PHOTOGRAPHS
Michel Denancé, Luis Diaz Diaz, Karolina Samborwska

FOUNDING PARTNERS
Yves Pagès and Benoît Le Thierry d’Ennequin

COLLABORATOR
Marie Ferrari

ENGINEERS
Terrell

CLIENT
Semavip

Millénaire Footbridge
© Karolina Samborwska

Text description provided by architect.

Le “Millénaire” is a recent mixed-used development located on the North of Paris. The development is centered around an old shipping dock which is connected to the canal Saint-Denis, Paris’ second most important waterway after the river Seine.

Millénaire Footbridge
© Michel Denancé
Millénaire Footbridge
© Karolina Samborwska

The 180m long footbridge spans the dock in order to create a new promenade along the canal.

The structure consists of two separate decks which are linked in the middle to form a viewing belvedere.

As per the City of Paris requirement, the crossing is fully accessible to disabled people and strollers without the use of elevators.The maximum gradient is 5% with landings every 10m.

Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz
Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz
Millénaire Footbridge
© Michel Denancé

Each deck, including its own staircase, is a continuous steel structure supported on inclined pinned columns.

Approach ramps and abutments at each end of the bridge are built in reinforced concrete.

Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz
Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz

The decks are formed with 2.5m wide steel boxes. Their depth is constant for the approach spans (11,5m typical) and variable for the 42m main span (with a 35cm depth at midspan).

Despite their slenderness, the steel decks include conduits for utilities as well as tuned mass dampers for dynamics.The bridge parapets emphasize lightness with a transparent stainless steel mesh.

Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz
Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz

At night, miniature round LED fixtures are built in the stainless steel handrails and the large bench at the central belvedere.

The footbridge is painted a bright red (steel and concrete structures, deck surfacing and parapet posts) in order to create a visual landmark on this former industrial site marked by terracotta buildings.

Millénaire Footbridge
© Michel Denancé
Millénaire Footbridge
© Luis Diaz Diaz

The color is also a reminder of the infamous architectural Follies of the nearby Parc de la Villette by architect Bernard Tschumi.


Millénaire Footbridge
Longitudinal Section
Millénaire Footbridge
Cross Sections
Millénaire Footbridge
Sections


Millénaire Footbridge
Site Plan

Explorations Architecture
T +33 1 44617058
Explorations Architecture
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