Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge, Sweden luxury home with jetty, Swedish residential building design, Architecture images
Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge in Stockholm, Sweden
30 June 2024
Design: Knight Architects
Location: Island of Lidingö, Stockholm, Sweden
Photos: Lasse Olsson Photo
Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge, Sweden
Knight Architects’ Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge has opened in full to the public, playing a vital role in connecting Sweden’s island of Lidingö to the greater Stockholm area.
Designed by leading bridge design practice Knight Architects in collaboration with engineers Sweco, the new Lilla Lidingöbron bridge was opened for pedestrians, cyclists and moped passengers in late 2022. The final part of the project, the tramway, has now completed, marking the opening of the bridge in full. Relied upon daily by around 4,000 pedestrians and cyclists, it is anticipated that more than 15,000 passenger journeys will be made every day by the new tram. Combined, the public transport and mobility options of the new bridge provide greater low and zero carbon travel options and contribute to a modal shift, directly responding to the City of Stockholm’s ambitions to increase renewable energy in transportation from 16% to 100% by 2040.
The new bridge replaces Gamla Lidingöbron (Old Lidingö Bridge), a low-level bridge which opened in 1925 and carried pedestrians, cyclists and a single tram line. As the low-level crossing became increasingly expensive to maintain, the decision was taken in 2012 by commissioning client Lidingö Stad (Lidingö City) to replace the old bridge with a new £60m (700m SEK) crossing, with greater provision for active travel and twin tram lines.
With a total length of circa 750m, the new Lilla Lidingöbron is one of Sweden’s longest tramway bridges and is significantly wider than its predecessor. With a 7.4m-wide segregated cycle and pedestrian deck plus two local widenings as balconies, the new bridge provides a more generous space for cyclists and pedestrians and a safe and reliable year-round crossing. Together with a lower bridge gradient and plans for summertime seating, the bridge has a clear focus on user enjoyment: encouraging maximum active mobility across all social groups.
Lilla Lidingöbron’s design responds to the rhythm of the neighbouring brutalist 1960s high-level road bridge with matching spanning arrangements, but has a softer, more elegant structural form with a sequence of gently curved spans rising gracefully to the central navigation channel. Additionally, the historic listed ‘Temple of the Winds’ shelter from the original bridge – a waiting shelter for tram passengers at a junction in the old tram routes at Torsvik on the Lidingö landing – was carefully removed and restored. It now provides a historic reminder of the region’s connections and acts as a beacon, welcoming users to Lidingö in the dark winter months and encouraging use of the bridge as a destination as well as a crossing in summertime.
Knight Architects was appointed from the outset of the bridge’s design before being retained as client advisor for the Design & Build tender and throughout the construction stage. Extensive public and stakeholder engagement was carried out as part of the design process.
Martin Knight, Managing Director at Knight Architects, says: “Lilla Lidingöbron plays a vital role in connecting the island of Lidingö to Stockholm’s main urban area. Its attractive design is focused on the user and supports widespread year-round use, including as a summer leisure destination. The new bridge is already encouraging modal shift to low-carbon transport alternatives. At Knight Architects we seek to improve connectivity for communities and generate lasting value, so we are very proud that Lilla Lidingöbron will make such a significant contribution to the city of Stockholm’s ambitious renewable energy targets.”
Daniel Källenfors, Mayor of Lidingö, says: “This is a great day for the people of Lidingö and all travellers on the Lidingö tram, as you can now travel all the way from Gåshaga to Ropsten. We are very pleased with the effectiveness of the bridge: generous spaces for both bicycles and public transport, and built to budget and plan. We are now becoming part of Stockholm again, in a good way.”
Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge in Stockholm, Sweden – Building Information
Architects: Knight Architects – https://www.knightarchitects.co.uk/
Client: Lidingö Stad
Consulting Engineers: Sweco, Atkins (concept design stage)
Contractor: Implenia Sverige AB
Lighting Designer: Black Ljusdesign AB (overall concept); Tehomet (fabricator/supplier lighting poles); Flux (lighting tips of poles)
Planning Consultant: AIX and Rosersbergs Maskin AB
Programme: 2013 – 2024
Client Technical Team: Knight Architects, Atkins, Sweco
D&b Contractor Team: Implenia Sverige, Elu Konsult
About Knight Architects
Knight Architects is an architectural consultancy specialising exclusively in the field of bridge and infrastructure design, where it is recognised as a market leader within the UK and internationally.
Formed in 2006, the practice comprises a skilled team with extensive experience and market-leading skills working on world-class projects around the world, yet it remains true to its founding principles: that good design is vital and that memorable and beautiful solutions are based on a clear understanding of function, context, budget and time.
The practice believes that infrastructure is a vital component of both the built and natural environments – highly visible forms that have a significant impact on their locality – and its work has been recognised with awards for bringing community benefits, as well as for design. Most recently, these include a Structural Award 2019 and International Civic Trust Award 2020 for its Kienlesbergbrücke in Ulm, Germany and the Special Award for Community Impact & Engagement (Civic Trust Award 2022) for New Pooley Bridge in Cumbria.
Knight Architects is an RIBA Chartered Practice.
Photography: Lasse Olsson Photo
Lilla Lidingöbron Bridge, Stockholm, Sweden images / information from received 300624
Location: Island of Lidingö, Stockholm, Sweden, north east Europe
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