Argent KCCLP | Kings Cross, London 2019 - 2021

Winner NLA Infrastructure Award 2022
Winner Civic Trust Award 2022
Winner Structural Steel Design Award 2022
Highly Commended AJ Awards 2022

Following the restoration and reopening of Coal Drops Yard in 2018, this bridge represents the final step of reinstating the heritage of this part of King's Cross. It replaces a bridge constructed circa 1821 in the same position on the Regents Canal and which was used to transport coal to the Goods Yard. The original bridge was taken down in the 1920s, when rail freight went into decline and it was no longer needed for transportation purposes.

The new bridge takes inspiration from lost railway bridges across the canal including its predecessor. Often chosen for its efficiency, the truss form in this case has been developed and finessed beyond the typical detailing expectations for this type of structure. Components have been optimised to express their alternately compressive and tensile load requirements. Nodal connections have been carefully considered, creating smoothly sculpted transitions between elements. The repetitive modular form creates a seemingly complex assembly out of a series of simple cells.

Named by the Children of the King's Cross Academy and inspired by the Espérance Club (1895-1914), a pioneering social project for local sewing girls created by two radical suffragettes, Mary Neal and Emmeline Pethick Lawrence.

“An elegant, pragmatic solution that is carefully crafted and beautifully made. This pedestrian bridge adopts the alignment of a historic bridge with its design appropriately reflecting the site’s industrial heritage. Thoughtful detailing of the curved steelwork to create the three-dimensional sculptural balustrade fully exploits the properties of steel and the potential it offers.”  Jury Citation, Structural Steel Design Awards 2022

"(Esperance Bridge) shows that public infrastructure can be visually compelling...
...a stylish and accomplished project that add(s) to the architectural richness of its locale."  Jury Citation, AJ Awards 2022