[M II A II R II K]

This New Bridge In London Has A Garden Growing Out Of It


November 8, 2013

By Ben Schiller

Read More: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3021300/t...wing-out-of-it

Cities want more green spaces, but there's no place left to build. What's a municipality to do? If they're London, they look to the River Thames. It's one part of the city center that's relatively untouched by development.

- Like New York's High Line but built from scratch, the Garden Bridge would stretch 1,200 feet across the Thames, and contain a mass of flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, walkways, and benches. The project's backers hope it will be a slow and peaceful oasis amid the chaos of Europe's busiest city.

- The concept comes from Thomas Heatherwick, the British designer who recently remodeled London's famous double-decked buses. His bridge design has large fluted piers that bulge at two points, creating more space for greenery. The span would go from the Temple area on the north side to the South Bank. Arup, the engineering firm, is assisting with the technical design.

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