Passerelle de la Paix / Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes

Architects: Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes
Location: Passerelle de la Paix, 69300 Caluire-et-Cuire, France
Design Team First Competition: Claire Bodénez, Silviu Aldea, Simone Breitkopf, Benni Eder, Teresa Krenn, José Luis Fuentes
Design Team Second Competition: José Luis Fuentes, An Vranken
Project Team Leader Planning : José Luis Fuentes
Team Planning: José Luis Fuentes, An Vranken, Arne Speiser, Vincent Chalot, Mathias Neveling. Manuela Certan
Year: 2014
Photographs: Michael Zimmermann, Jose Luis Fuentes

Model: Philipp Weinberger
Engineers: SBP GMBH, BET structure
Aerodynamic Studies: Wacker Ingenieure
Contractors: Zwahlen & Mayr, SMB, CBR TP, Soletanche Bachy, DR Equipement, Société Lyonnaise CITEOS,
Client: Communauté Urbaine de Lyon
Total Length : 220 m
Clear Span : 157 m
Width : 1,5m / 5m / 8,8m
Weight : 800tn
Height Above River Level: 8m over normal Rhône level
Time Schedule: 20 months of construction
Building Costs: 9 795 500 €HT

From the architect. The new bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the Rhone in Lyon – la passerelle de la Paix – reveals the landscape and urban changes.

This portion of the river is part of the development of the city to the North. The footbridge links the conference centre ‘Cité Internationale’ and St. Claire as well as two major parks on each side of the river, the Parc de la Tete d’or and the Parc of Saint Claire. It forms a landmark that is first seen from the high-speed rail track entering Lyon.

The bridge spans over the river with a free span of 157 meters. Two cantilevers built of a three dimensional asymmetric tube structure join in the middle of the river. The structure is extremely slender and offers a maximum of transparency.

Two walkways lead to the riverbanks. The major one on top links the quay level, it is five meters large and divided into a bicycle lane and a footpath facing towards the city.

The second walkway follows the lower arch of the structure and links the lower riverbanks. In the middle of the river the two paths join and form a large public space offering a fabulous view.

The wooden deck is made in oak wood providing anti-slipping features by integrating epoxy resin bands with silex. The railing consists of handrails in inox integrating LED lights and cable-net filling.

At night additional lights integrated in the structure transform the bridge in a magic object adding a new chapter to the great history of urban scenic light in the city of Lyon.