A 3D model of a landscape with elevated terrain and contours. The model features layered surfaces, simulating hills and valleys, with a few small, bare trees scattered across the undulating landform, set against a dark background.
Oberengadin Bridges

Oberengadin Bridges

Engadin, Switzerland

2019

Client   Rhätische Bahn
This proposal for a sequence of mountian railway bridges in the Upper Engadin Valley seeks to establish for Samedan and Punt Muragl the same close affinity of railway, landscape, architecture and engineering that is embodied by the existing bridges of the famed Albula and Bernina Lines of the Rhaetian Railway.
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Compact proportions and a bright and gently curving top edge are combined in the proposal with expressed diagonal stiffeners and neatly defined bridge ends to create an identifiable leitmotif that recurs five times across two sites. By minimising structural depth and maintaining a legible and simple silhouette each bridge maintains the existing unobtrusive character of the railway as it crosses the wide meadow landscape of the valley floor. 

When viewed at a close distance - whether from above at Punt Muragl or alongside and below at Samedan - the bridges reveal a different character, as carefully tailored interventions into the landscape that recall the high degree of craft and consideration for detail that is evident on the historic structures of the Rhaetian Railway.

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Diagram showing four different geometric bridge designs. Each bridge features varied triangular and lattice structures, all presented in shades of gray against a black background.

The slender and identifiable form is adjusted for span and proximity to other structures, with the three longer bridges incorporating triangular apertures into the web, coordinated with the diagonal stiffeners to maximise visibility through the structure and reinforce the connection with the wider landscape. The apertures increase the sense of lightness for passengers and onlookers alike while the rising and falling of the curved top face of the beam edge, visible from the moving train, signals that each bridge is an individual crossing point over a river, road or pathway.

A white architectural model features bridges, trees, and a small building against a dark background. The intricate design includes various structural elements, emphasizing a blend of nature and urban planning.
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A sleek, modern bridge with a curved, lattice-design deck supported by tall pylons and cables, architecture by MOXON Architects.
A minimalist architectural model featuring contour lines and scattered trees on a sloped terrain is displayed. The design is predominantly white with undulating surfaces and subtle elevation changes.

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