Explorations Architecture

Schuman Bridge

Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre

Schuman Bridge

Explorations Architecture

LIGHTING DESIGNER
Les Éclairagistes Associés, Joseph Frey

BRIDGE ENGINEER
Flint & Neill, Paul Sanders, Alessandro Pavone, Oliver Stross

DESIGN TEAM
Benoit Le Thierry D’ennequin, Yves Pagès, Alexis Prigent

CIVILS WORKS ENGINEER
Aia Ingenierie, Olivier Canat

PHOTOGRAPHS
Guillaume Satre

AREA
5000 m²

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Lyon, France

CATEGORY
Vehicular Bridge

Text description provided by architect.

The Schuman bridge is located in the Saône corridor, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It forms a new entryway to the historic center of Lyon, the second largest city in France.

Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre
Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre

The Schuman bridge design has been thoroughly informed by its surroundings. Schuman is built in between two of the oldest bridges in Lyon (Masaryk and Barbe) whose suspension structure is both iconic and rare with its central pier.

There is a significant visual interplay between the Masaryk structure and Schuman’s. Unlike Masaryk’s massive structure, the Schuman bridge seeks to open up the river perspective at midspan with two arches going below the deck. The structure define an open area, a place above the river designed to become a viewing platform.

Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre
Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre

Schuman’s structure is as slender, lightweight and transparent as possible, in order to facilitate its integration into the urban landscape.

The structural expression of the bridge is focused on the central pier in order to gently touch down upon the historical stone banks of the river. The arches are fabricated with twisted sections of steel creating an ever changing profile.

Schuman Bridge
© Guillaume Satre
Schuman Bridge
Floor Plan

The reduced structural depth of the deck (70cm) is achieved with a composite construction in order to comply with various geometrical constraints above and below the deck (gradients for disabled people, headroom for the river traffic).

The sidewalks are designed as ultra slender steel “blades” attached to the main structure. The various bridge users (pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers) cross the river at the same level just like in a street.

This friendly coexistence ensures the continuation of the city upon the river. At night, the lighting strategy is based on indirect sources.

Functional and feature fixtures are focused towards a clear colored pavement which is used as a giant reflector to emphasize the magnificent structure.

Schuman Bridge
Floor Plan


Schuman Bridge
Elevation
Schuman Bridge
Elevation
Schuman Bridge
Elevation


Schuman Bridge
Detail


Schuman Bridge
Detail


Schuman Bridge
Detail
Schuman Bridge
Detail
Schuman Bridge
Detail
Schuman Bridge
Detail


Schuman Bridge
Detail
Schuman Bridge
Detail
Schuman Bridge
Detail

Explorations Architecture
T +33 1 44617058
Explorations Architecture
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