Tamayouz Rifat Chadirji Prize Architecture Competition.
Lab59 Architects (Short listed).
Competition Brief.
Participants are asked to design a living pedestrian bridge over the Nile connecting Al-Tahrir square Area (East Bank) to Al Zamalek area (West Bank) .
Re-imagine the public space on the east bank of the Nile where the NDP building once stood, in and of itself but also in relation to Tahrir Square and the other important focal points on both the east and west banks.
The solution should offer a seed for new ways of life across Cairo, and potentially other megalopolis-es across the world. It should also be capable of identifying and re-generating interest in the existing activities on both banks, as well as suggest new activities.
Along the Nile riverbanks and above the vehicles bridges the moment the sun sets the people of Egypt are observed enjoying various activities peacefully. They created their own promenades and retreats to satisfy their needs. All of that leads to that the people are yearning for more adequate public spaces.
With its monumental location near Tahrir Square and the Egyptian museum facing Cairo's tower we utilized those 2 main axes to create our biomorphic shaped destination, calling out people from all around the city to gather in our floating square, where they can recall their unity in Tahrir Square. A free space to let go of their daily pressures and an easy access to their different needs and activities.
Mimicking the urban fabric of Tahrir square, our design is built on 2 main axes, the first is oriented towards Cairo's tower starting from the main bridge public space. The second axis will lead to a journey that connects the Egyptian museum main plaza with the Masala Garden. Both are unified at the floating square where the bridge defies the nature of just being a passage between the east and west bank. But a solenoid shaped mass where the sceneries around the location are treated as artworks in a museum.
Our bridge also has various access gateways to ensure the circulation and accessibility from both sides' public spaces, and Nile cornice from all sides.
ASSIGNED BY: LAB59
