Pestszentlorinc Bicycle-Pedestrian Bridge
Budapest
Programme
Masterplanning and concept design of a mini intermodal junction analysing functional setup, circulation and traffic routes.
Architectural design of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge providing safe and fully accessible passage across the railway and Gyömrői út.
Location: Budapest
Client: BKK + Budapest XVIII. district council
with SpecialTERV Kft.
IN SEARCH OF CONNECTIONS –
REVITALISATION VIA A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
INTRODUCTION
The project started out as a simple study plan of a traffic facility. However, a deeper examination of urban structure and an analysis of potential opportunities led to much more profound and concise conclusions the designers had had in mind. As a result, the engineers from Speciálterv and the architects from Bright Field Studios created a concept of a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists that would connect the urban areas of Pestszentlőrinc. Together with its environs, this bridge could even serve as a mini intermodal junction.
The radial and concentric railway network of the capital was created in the second half of the 19th century at a speed that would be considered amazing even today. This network greatly defined the development of the urban structure in the century that followed. At first, the cores of the new residential areas or settlements centred around the suburban railway stations. Later, the road network tried to follow a rapid development of motorisation and urbanisation. After the heyday of railways and dependent industries there was a downturn that left behind vast rust zones and urban inclusions. Their rehabilitation by finding an appropriate use has been an open question ever since.
There is a section of Gyömrői út with a similarly exciting and special character. Acting on an initiative issued by the council of the 18th district, BKK commissioned Speciálterv and Bright Field Studios to make a study for a pedestrian/cyclist bridge there. Currently, there are not enough quality pedestrian connections between Erzsébettelep and Lónyaytelep, two neighbourhoods of Pestszentlőrinc. There are only some aged, inorganically placed pedestrian passages over the rails and the roads. To make matters worse, stuck in between the main road and the railway there is an underused industrial-commercial strip of land. The task to revitalise the area is all the more actual now that plans of an airport-bound high-speed train, new suburban railways and bicycle tracks are in the pipeline, and Gyömrői út will be reconstructed and widened.
Kossuth tér – the centre of Pestszentlőrinc – got a facelift recently [link to article on Epiteszforum]. Some of its architectural elements refer to the works of a famous one-day resident, Béla Kondor. On the Erzsébettelep side of the area, the new building of Kerekerdő Óvoda (kindergarten) stands out, with lake Balázs-tó in the vicinity, hiding behind the houses – a by-product of brick factories and clay mines active in the 1920s.
The area in the intersection of zones of distinct character was thoroughly analysed by the designers. Eventually, one single, straight and powerful gesture of urban design was suggested that would promote the renewal of the site later on as a general organising principle while retaining all necessary traffic functions. Although the master plan did include a connection option, several alternatives were taken into consideration for the final concept design in cooperation with the municipal office of architecture.
The place for the construction was chosen to keep clear of the protected, early reinforced concrete water tower and the blocks that were built some time around 1900 for the American-Hungarian Nortroph Weaving Mill - Amerikai-Magyar Nortroph Szövőgyár (later Filtex, then Lőrinci Fonó). In spite of their purised and depressing looks there are valuable spaces inside that ought to be preserved.
Having examined the location and features such as rail structure gauges and clearance outlines, the designers analysed the feasibility of various potential structures and combinations (cable-stayed bridge, arch bridge, multi-span beam bridge), both open and closed types. Placing the fewest supports possible was one of the main goals. Finally, the objective of a long-term revitalisation of the surrounding industrial zone gave the bold idea to use a „recycled” element, a „found object” (objet trouvé) to serve as the new connection. This will certainly demonstrate the importance of preserving values and bonding to the identity of the location. The engineers found the two lateral elements of Déli Összekötő Vasúti híd – the southern rail bridge, to be reconstructed soon – of 98m length each, most suitable for the purpose. Turned to face one another they would perfectly fit the geometry of the site (for transportation they would need to be cut up at some places temporarily). Saving a part of the truss bridge would carry a very positive message, moreover, it could easily bear the load which would be far less then that of railway traffic – a concise statical examination would suffice, no serious reinforcement would be needed. Last but not least, two-way rail traffic could be upheld during a much shorter time span of construction. Due to the special design of the bridge elements, the cover to be placed on the filigree edge beams would appear independent from the prominent lower trusses and vertical supports, as if „floating”.
Contemporary art is also represented in the concept of course. The girders housing the elevators would be covered in perforated steel with denser and sparser sections above the rails and through the passage cores, respectively. At the end facades, passengers would be greeted by an attractive panorama and plenty of light. Too little space rendered the positioning of ramps impossible, however, elevators in each of the boxes will create a small environment of obstacle-free intermodality as it will enable a concentrated and fast change of transportation means between the parking lots and pedestrian areas in and around Pestszentlőrinc train station, the inclusion to be opened, the bus stops at Gyömrői út, and cycle paths. Plans to widen the main road to the airport would enable us to create a small space for resting and reception at the Erzsébettelep side of the pedestrian passage, similar to the one next to the locally protected train station with an air of the Hungarian Millennium.
A strong point of the concept is that the bridge can be built separately and further development with additional benefits can be phased in and carried out independently right after the connection has been reestablished, no matter if starting out from the inclusion or the end points.
Due to their peculiar interiors the industrial buildings would be most suited to become cultural and attraction spots that could make passers-by – and perhaps later, not only the passers-by - stop and spend some time there. The area has the potential to include a large parking lot that would further enhance its function as a „magnet”.
All in all, the task seems to be quite complex indeed, which could eventually set an example for rust zone revitalisation and disrupted urban structure reparation.
This article appeared on Epiteszforum on 28 Oct 2019
Author: Peter Garai