In August 1996 I was invited to propose a pedestrian bridge across the river Thames to connect St Pauls Cathedral to the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art. Realising that bridges are conventionally controlled by the economics of wheeled traffic, and invariably attempt to take the shortest route, this seemed lo be an opportunity to take the longest route, explore the river up and downstream, take in the view, enjoy the sky, and decelerate the hasty citizen.
Collaborating with architects Thomas du Toit and Makstutis, our proposal developed into a lazy 'S' across'' the river, a route which look its time to depart and arrive, not so a different from some of the surviving medieval streets to ·of the north and south of the river. Our proposal also greatly improved the map of London.
Sadly, a very straight bridge was chosen as a final solution.
Richard Wentworth
March 1997
In August 1996 I was invited to propose a pedestrian bridge across the river Thames to connect St Pauls Cathedral to the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art. Realising that bridges are conventionally controlled by the economics of wheeled traffic, and invariably attempt to take the shortest route, this seemed lo be an opportunity to take the longest route, explore the river up and downstream, take in the view, enjoy the sky, and decelerate the hasty citizen.
Collaborating with architects Thomas du Toit and Makstutis, our proposal developed into a lazy 'S' across'' the river, a route which look its time to depart and arrive, not so a different from some of the surviving medieval streets to ·of the north and south of the river. Our proposal also greatly improved the map of London.
Sadly, a very straight bridge was chosen as a final solution.
Richard Wentworth
March 1997