Footbridge in the Old Dockyard
Old docks, Via Antonio Baglietto, SavonaThe city of Savona wanted to regain its sea-facing position by moving its port activities away from the old dock: in this context the decision to build a pedestrian bridge to connect the old town centre with the dock area took on a central role. In order not to hinder the activities of the marina, the bridge is designed as a movable structure, able to lift to allow the passage of sailing boats: two pistons on each side lift the central sections of the deck to a 45° angle. In the middle, the bridge is 6.30 metres high from the water level and allows the continuous passage of small boats.
The project, with the collaboration of engineers Ciravegna and Badami for the structural design, created a 43.50 metre pedestrian walkway to connect Savona’s old town centre with the dock area: a “port machine” to cross the dock, from the old Ligurian houses to a landscape of artificial signs such as piers, docks and handling machinery. The metal structure consists of double-T beams and circular section profiles painted blue and is suspended by means of tie rods from steel poles and hinged to a concrete base containing the technical rooms; the bridge moves thanks to two pistons on each side which lift the central sections of the deck to allow the passage of sailing boats.
Premio Giovani, Accademia Nazionale di San Luca Architettura 2003, Roma, De Luca Editori 2003, 50; Nuova architettura italiana. Due generazioni a confronto, Milano, Motta Editore 2002; “Architècti”, n. 53, gennaio-marzo 2001, “Il progetto” n. 6, 1999; Premio nazionale di architettura Luigi Cosenza 1998, Napoli, Clean Edizioni 1998.
