A sketch of a car with trees in the background, drawn with simple lines, with an architectural design by MOXON Architects.
Slateford Aqueduct Path

Slateford Aqueduct Path

Edinburgh, Scotland

2020

Client   Scottish Canals
This project is for a new raised public route alongside the historic Slateford Aqueduct - which improves active travel along the Union Canal by alleviating traffic from the towpath and introducing a safe, accessible connection between canal and street levels.
A bridge design with multiple arches, topped with green trees and planters, with an emphasis on structural elegance, architecture by MOXON Architects.

Prior to the advent of motorised barges in the Industrial Revolution, towpaths were used to manually haul cargo along a network of inland canal routes. More recently, towing has become obsolete, and many narrow canalside routes have been converted to footpaths with little or no edge protection into the water.

Two proposals have been developed as part of this feasibility study for Scottish Canals: a direct, parallel route along to the Union Canal; and a meandering ramped walkway. Connections and routes are paramount to both proposals - a key consideration is manouvering existing pedestrian and cyclist movement away from the narrow and unsafe paths along the aqueduct.

A large stone aqueduct with multiple arches, a small building nearby, and an open paved area in the foreground, architecture by MOXON Architects.
Illustration of an aerial view of a park landscape design featuring pathways, bridges, and greenery. The design includes trees, winding paths, and water features, surrounded by roads and architectural structures.
An architectural sketch of a landscape design featuring pathways, greenery, and a bridge over a river. The area is outlined with trees, indicating a park-like setting, and has roads visible at the top and bottom corners.
A low-angle view of a modern bridge with sleek, curving lines and a minimalist design against a clear blue sky. The sun glows through the structure, casting shadows. In the foreground, blurred plants add depth.
A vibrant outdoor market scene at sunset, with a wide pedestrian bridge curving overhead. Colorful umbrellas shade market stalls and people gather below. Trees frame the scene in the background.
A sequence of four maps shows a street transformation: first highlighting a road segment, then adding green space, then marking walking and cycling paths, and finally indicating new crossings and bus stops along the street.
A sequence of architectural diagrams showing the transformation of a bridge: from a plain structure to an elevated walkway with seating, greenery, and people walking and cycling, viewed from top and side perspectives.
Partner
Structural engineer
Arcadis

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