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The bridge also enhances the natural flow of the river Tanaro, and aspires to become a public space for the citizens of Alessandria. While the previous structure was often heavily congested with traffic, making it unsafe and virtually an obstruction for pedestrians, the new bridge provides separate parallel routes for pedestrian and vehicular circulation. The pedestrian walkway effectively becomes a public plaza through which the public and civic life of Alessandria can find a new, positive relation to the river.
While the white precast concrete and painted steel structures highlight environmental changes across the site, and have become iconic reference points visible from many locations in the city, the porfido stone pavers to the sides of the abatement walls seamlessly anchor the structure to the traditional material palette of Alessandria’s streetscapes.
Cittadella Bridge, Alessandria, Italy
Program: infrastructure
Architect: Richard Meier & Partners Architects
Design principals: Richard Meier, FAIA, FRIBA; John Eisler, Dukho Yeon, AIA
Project Manager: Simone Ferracina
Collaborators: Alfonso d’Onofrio, Jim Sawyer, Matteo Pericoli
Associate Architect: Dante O. Benini & Partners Architects
Design Principal: Dante O. Benini
Senior Partner: Luca Gonzo
Senior Architect: Monica Lirosi
Site Assistant: Sebastiano De Servi
Client: Comune di Alessandria
Dimension: length 185m; height 32.5m
Completion: 2017