Bridging the Maribyrnong

The river's post-colonial history is marked with petrochemical spills, explosives manufacturing, and landfills. That, together with altered flood paths and habitat loss, has severely degraded both the river and our relationship with it. Endemic wildlife and landscapes have been lost, hundreds of people at risk of losing their home with each flood. 18 km of river defined as masterplan site. 15 unique bridges with context-specific opportunities. A "Core Sample" matrix of site observations as Assessment tool. 3 selected to become pedagogical prototypes. 3 short stories. Grasses, Birds and Fish.

Through a lens of custodianship, the project embodies research and observations of the bridged communities with a series of characters whose actions drive the river’s restoration: -Alfred, a regretful oil tycoon, cleans the riverbanks with sacrificial sunflower festivals and the propagation of native grasses. -Lisa, a passionate Parks Victoria director and bird lover, crafts bird nests from discarded plant guards. -The Smith sisters, ambitious rowing instructors and fishing enthusiasts, bring people to the water while creating fish habitats beneath. Here Architecture serves as background to the situations and opportunities of each site. Each bridge is transformed through repetition, reconfiguration, and pairing of a 'kit of parts' developed from objects found along the riverbanks, giving life to 3 new bridges: -The Bridge of Grasses, where “done with” phragmite reeds are processed into buoyant straw logs. Integrated nurseries support the propagation of native grasses. Visitors are encouraged to take grasses home, gradually restoring the area—one backyard at a time. -The Bridge of Birds, discarded plant guards are transformed into an avian cladding system, creating nesting habitats for endangered species. Interactive stations invite visitors to build their own bird nests to take home, extending the act of restoration beyond the site. -The Bridge of Boats and Fish, where floating platforms support a range of waterborne activities whilst integrating fish habitats underneath, encouraging the growth of fish populations. BRIDGING explores how a series of carefully considered interventions can revitalize contaminated landscapes and reestablish lost ecologies, demonstrating how architecture can draw attention to and effectively address complex environmental challenges.