Castello Bridge

General concepts
The project responds to the need to create a structure that makes it physically impossible to bypass the bridge protection barriers; provides for the removal of existing structures and the laying of new elements, specially designed, along the edges of the viaduct. The new barriers re-define and direct the space by setting a new perception: from the current horizontal opening and towards the valley floor to a more markedly vertical spatiality.
At the request of the Construction Division, for issues related to maintenance and inspection of the viaduct, the maximum height of the protections, measured to suffer from the road surface, is 2.40 meters.
The new barrier is composed of vertical metal profiles (T 40 x 40 x 5 mm), 230 cm high and spaced 11 cm apart.

Material: galvanized metal profile (the same used for other road protection); this material gives the new product the quality of coherence – color and material – with existing protections.
The structure is designed to offer maximum protection and minimum visual encumbrance; the rhythm of the vertical profiles forms a plane with a percentage of opacity (full with respect to the void) of 36%.
The structure offers poor wind resistance, allowing air circulation.

Assembly and installation
The screen consists of individual modules that are attached to the existing uprights.
Each module measures 200 centimeters in width and 230 in height; it consists of 2 horizontal IPE 100 profiles to which 13 T-profiles 40 x 40 x 5 are vertically fixed.
For the installation of the new screen, the already existing structures (uprights with boxes) are used; for fixing the single module – after having dismantled the current protection grids – proceed by inserting the C profile around the two wings of the IPE 100 column.

Image of the bridge
The set of elements that make up the viaduct protection has a double perception:
1) the horizontal road safety structure (upright and caisson) that is distinctly perceived by those traveling by car;
2) the vertical pedestrian safety structure (rhythm of the T-profiles) that is mainly perceived by those walking on the sidewalk next to the metal screen. The rhythm of the structure gives the viaduct greater visibility, enhancing it and helping to create a greater sense of security.

Castello Bridge – protection structure

Project

2011

Photographs

Luca Ferrario, Enrico Sassi

Technical data

Client: Municipio Castel San Pietro

Architect: Enrico Sassi

Work management  Enrico Sassi

Metal constructor: Officine Canova SA

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