Webb Bridge

Article about architecture of Webb Bridge: http://www.nextroom.org/building_article.php?building_id=28849&article_i...

From missing article: http://www.docklands.com/docklands/media/news/20021112.shtml

WEBB BRIDGES THE GAP AT DOCKLANDS

Date: 12-NOV-02

The spectacular new Webb Bridge, a 6 metre high, latticed hooped sculpture is to be floated up the Yarra River into place next to Charles Grimes Bridge early tomorrow morning.

The bridge is part of the Docklands Authority’s public art program paid for by Docklands developers.

Yarra’s Edge precinct developer, Mirvac, is developing and funding the Webb Bridge in conjunction with the Docklands Authority as part of a $10 million commitment to creating inspiring urban art for public enjoyment in the open spaces and waterfront promenades of its precinct.

Designed by Melbourne artist Robert Owen with Architects Denton Corker Marshall, Webb Bridge is the most ambitious of Mirvac’s Urban Art contributions in its residential precinct.

The artist was inspired by a desire for a symbolic and poetic demonstration of reconciliation, and the site’s indigenous history.

The design is an analogy of Koorie fishing traps, drums, baskets and the gestural flow of the river below.

The bridge is located on the same site as the decommissioned Webb Rail Bridge which brought goods to and from the Spencer Street Rail Yards on the other side of the Yarra river. The new Webb bridge reconciles the European cultural past with the natural and indigenous past.

Docklands Authority CEO, John Tabart, said that under the Docklands Authority public art program developers contributed one percent of their development cost to public art.

‘This Webb Bridge will be a great drawcard for the average daily 55,000 annual visitors expected in Docklands each day and will be a spectacular ex ample of the public benefits inherent in the Docklands private/public partnership,’ Mr Tabart said.

‘Webb Bridge is set to be a significant landmark for Docklands and Melbourne for many years to come.

Mr Tabart congratulated Mirvac and said that the bridge showed what was possible when a Government development authority, a private developer and an independent art panel worked together to create something both for public enjoyment and public use.’

The bridge adds to a growing list of significant urban art now in Docklands including John Kelly’s Cow Up a Tree, Bruce Armstrong’s ‘Eagle’, and ‘Threaded Field’ by Simon Perry.

Yarra’s Edge Development Director, Stephen Wolf, said the Webb bridge linking the Yarra’s Edge Precinct on the south bank of the river with Docklands Park and Harbour Esplanade, was a practical solution to its site.

‘The bridge is not only a practical solution to the site’s physical requirements but also demonstrates Mirvac’s commitment to art and innovative architecture in the development of the Yarra’s Edge precinct,’ he said.

‘Great cities are recognised by their spectacular examples of artistic architecture. Webb Bridge is an amazing example of what is possible when architects, artists and developers collaborate with long term vision.

Spanning 110 metres across the Yarra River, the new bridge creates a ‘snaking’ pedestrian and cycle gateway between the Southbank promenade at Yarra’s Edge and the Docklands.

Constructed off-site, the bridge structure will be towed into place on barges at high tide, then gently lowered onto its final resting-place as the tide slowly subsides.

The bridge structure will be towed from Victoria Harbour by barge up to the Bolte Bridge, around the ‘Spit’ and eastwards up the Yarra to Charles Grimes Bridge.