Submitted as a proposal to the International Competition for the Concept of the new Bridge over the Douro river, between Porto (Campo Alegre) and Vila Nova de Gaia (Candal), this project contemplates a tramway - connecting the two cities through a new metro line - a bike lane and a pedestrian way. Of all the current structural possible typoligies, our choice befalls on a metal arch structure, producing an elegant design with minimum impact over the beautiful landscape.

With the goal of enhancing this structure, we propose the lower levels of the river banks be connected, by making it possible to climb the arch which, in its higher level, converges with the deck route. In order to make this possible, the exterior faces of the arch operate a torsion. The arch’s geometry envolves the central point of the deck, connecting the two pedestrian routes, while creating a dinamic and recognisable visual identity from afar.

PROJECT TYPE: Infrastructure

LOCATION: Porto, PT

SIZE: 420 m2

STATUS: Competition

YEAR: 2021

Sérgio Rebelo, Ricardo Gouveia, Nuno Paiva, La-Salete Carvalho, Nuno Borges, Lourenço Barreto, Tiago Martins, Catarina Araújo, Bruna Campos, Joana Portela

ENGINEERING: Thornton Tomassetti and AP Bridge

LANDSCAPE: Balmori Associates