The proposed design straddles between an innovative public infrastructure and an iconic architecture, capable of becoming one of the powerful landmarks for the new city. The entry to the new township shall be firmly rooted in the traditions of the country’s culture, its architectural heritage, while serving as an iconic symbol for the modern city of Diyar Al-Muharraq and Bahrain’s deep investment in its human / technology capital

The entry, which houses an over-footbridge, heralds its presence with its unique architecture, instantly recognizable from afar. The design takes its cues from the maritime context and heritage of the place, while overlaying it with other architectural references, and even the references of overlapping arches present on Diyar’s Logo.

The pylons are 65 meters high, made of built-up structural steel plates, finished with anti-corrosive paint. The footbridge is suspended with cables that span across the soaring pylons. The pathway is finished with wooden planks. The footbridge is equipped with radiant cooling to combat extreme temperature during summer months. The bridge is wrapped with a double layer of solar screens, made of stainless steel alloy finished with marine grade paint, typical of the region’s Masharabia, to protect the pedestrians from harsh weather and heat.

Though it was desirable to extend the footbridge beyond the pylon to the ground, the proposal incorporates two sets of escalators on either end, connected via a suspended bridge to transfer the pedestrians to the bridge and back to the ground

The proposed structure opts for a concealed cable system or an exoskeleton concealed within the two layers of solar screens. The pylon houses the services like lifts for universal access, fire /emergency / maintenance stair ways etc. The other services like electrical room, control rooms etc., could be used within the pylon or below ground, at the detailed design stage.

Team:
Architect: Collaborative Architecture
Clients: Diyar Al Muharraq 
Project Team: Lalita Tharani, Mujib Ahmed, Mihir Mistry 
Structure: Web Structures