re-imagining the habitual london bridge as a falling fragmentation of architecture uniting with a new public space below the natural levels of the river thames [RIBA competition entry]

the re-imagining of london bridge as a new habitable crossing across the river thames will exemplify the power of architecture in enforcing an existing structural intervention whilst positively destroying the barriers of an accepted waterway tradition. the proposal challenges the brief in dramatising the existing structure and its immediate environment resulting in the creation of a public zone below the natural levels of the river.
the proposed intervention will spread from the existing structure of the bridge, leaving the original surface as a simple and direct linear access from tooley street in the south to monument station on the northern bank of the river. the emerging assembly that forms the new habitable bridge extends beyond the boundaries of the existing structure at the north-eastern edge before falling underneath into territory beneath the water previously avoided of human interference. a section of the thames will be dammed, in an unprecedented development pushing the boundaries of engineering, subsequently creating a new zone into which architecture can flourish and bleed via fragmentation into a newly generated public space. this zone emerges beneath the natural levels of the river thames in the area caught between the southern end of the bridge and the frontage of the hospital.
fuelling the development of this public space is the growth of the business sector and the subsequent increased density of working people as new commercial developments are realised on both sides of the river.  the urban expansion leaves an increasing working population with very little public open space in the immediate region, a problem that the re-imagined london bridge proposal will address in an unparalleled fashion.
the re-imagined bridge itself will draw the public realm from the newly created open space and spread this through the bridge’s architecture across the river as new cafes, restaurants and other social facilities nestle amongst a linear but fragmented pedestrianised street environment reflecting the shattering of previous incarnations of this waterside landmark. cooking vertically from this public fragment, an array of affordable living units will bring the bridge to life on a 24-hour basis whilst helping address the long-term problem of housing in the city in the shadow of an ever-expanding population.  the energetic life of the bridge will be aided by power created from waterwheels on the eastern side of the intervention, a further re-imagination of former incarnations of the bridge and its elements.
many people are familiar with the first few lines of the ubiquitous london bridge song. this intervention will reflect that ‘falling down’ element in terms of the fragmentation of the architectural style. however this falling architecture will only serve as a positive in creating a public element of monumental status that will give the city’s people a london bridge that realises the grandeur of its famous name.

[[[completed in conjunction with aluette vega-ruiz www.aluettevega.com/ ]]]