14 Mar 2012
Luchtsingel vision wins Rotterdam contest
BY Pete Hayman
A 350m (1,148ft)-wide wooden pedestrian bridge linking Rotterdam's Central District with the Hofbogen is to be built in the Dutch city with contributions from members of the public.
Rotterdam-based Zones Urbaines Sensibles (ZUS) are behind the design of the Luchtsingel scheme, which polled the most votes in the city's EUR4m (£3.3m, US$5.2m) Stadsinitiatief.
ZUS has worked in collaboration with Hofbogen BV on the project, which will create a new raised promenade with the public invited to fund different elements of the structure.
It is estimated around 17,000 planks of wood are needed to build Luchtsingel, with a single plank costing EUR25 (£21, US$33). Funders will be rewarded with their name on "their" plank.
Alternatively, individuals can have their name printed on a larger piece of the bridge in return for a EUR125 (£104, US$164) donation, or an entire component for EUR1,250 (£1,042, US$1,639).
According to the designers behind the scheme, Luchtsingel aims to return the Hofplein area to pedestrian use. The bridge is expected to be mostly completed by April 2012.
A spokesperson said: "With the construction of Luchtsingel, ZUS wants to test the policy framework and design visions for the city of Rotterdam and to experiment with alternative development strategies for the city."
The Luchtsingel project follows the success of The High Line in New York City, US, which has converted a former 1930s rail line into an eco-friendly park above the city's streets.
To read more about the success of The High Line in New York City, US, see Leisure Management 2012 Issue 1, p32
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