Winning entry described as ’bold, elegant and uncluttered’

Network Rail’s ideas competition for a new footbridge design has been won by a team of European architects.

Danish practice Gottlieb Paludan Architects and Czech Republic bridge specialist Strasky, Husty and Partners saw off more than 120 entries from 19 countries worldwide to win the competition, jointly run by the rail infrastructure company and the RIBA.

Hawkins Brown, which teamed up with WSP, was highly commended.

The competition was looking for ideas that were “innovative, challenged presumptions and raised expectations for the quality of future design” and which could be built easily at multiple stations.

According to the judges, the winning design (pictured below) “addressed the wide range of practical challenges while proposing a bold, elegant and uncluttered response that would create an uplifting experience to suit many contexts”.

Anthony Dewar, head of buildings and architecture at Network Rail, said the competition winner would be added to the company’s new catalogue of improved station footbridge designs.

RIBA footbridge competition winner