Seraing Footbridge

The footbridge is a straight line from the former Central Workshops and the Trasenster Park along the river. Usual steel profiles form a simple 3.50 m wide structure unfolding through the landscape without any monumental character. Its length allows to accommodate the important level differences on site while connecting gently the main surrounding amenities: the upper level of the former Central Workshops converted into a generous public space, the new train stop and the historical park along the river. Secondary staircases anchor the footbridge to the ground and define a series of differentiated public spaces: a mineral lower court for the Central Workshops, a densely planted forecourt for the train stop and a promenade in the meadow between the former industrial infrastructures.

The project site is a fairly heterogeneous urban context, comprising small-scale houses, large industrial facilities and brownfield sites adjacent to the railway tracks. The valley floor landscape is criss-crossed by a series of infrastructures parallel to the Meuse, which have completely isolated the Ougrée district from the river. Within the limited budget, the project propose to double the length of the footbridge asked by the client, to physically connect the Central Workshops with the park along the river. This generous length allows to gently connect the different levels of the sites steeply sloping towards the river while crossing the existing railway line. This imposes to make conscious constructive choices resulting in simple T-shaped steel columns supporting lateral H profiles defining a generous 3.50m-wide concrete deck. Simple prefab concrete staircases connect the bridge with the various landscapes it crosses. They define specific public spaces interacting with the situations encountered. They furthermore facilitate connections to the train platforms but also enable a genuine process of urban regeneration.

A series of industrial construction elements are assembled to form a robust and elegant whole. The footbridge consists of central columns and main beams forming large T-shapes. HEB profiles then support the deck made of steel decking and composite concrete. Simple steel mesh railings reinforce this continuous line. This simple construction detail is then adapted to all the geometries and situations encountered by the footbridge. More than just integrated, the construction elements are expressed and juxtaposed to create a simple and refined whole. This construction method also allows the footbridge to pass over railway tracks and roads without restricting their use. A coloured resin protects the concrete deck and gives the footbridge its own identity. The stairs and secondary connections are made of precast concrete. The round central columns interact with the steel columns of the footbridge.