Kurilpa Bridge, Brisbane

[ButFli]

I think the new garden at the Tank St end of the bridge is a bit much.

[Jon Bryant]

Here is a great fund raising opportunity.

The Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland is thrilled to be the beneficiary of a unique eBay auction where one lucky bidder will become the first person to walk across Brisbane?s newest pedestrian and bicycle bridge, Kurilpa Bridge.

Bids can be made on eBay between September 22 and September 29, with the winner getting  the opportunity to walk across the bridge on Friday, October 2.

CEO of the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland, Mr Peter Johnstone, said he was delighted with the opportunity to work in partnership with the Queensland Government on this unique fundraising venture.

?On behalf of the Leukaemia Foundation, I thank the Queensland Government for the opportunity,? Mr Johnstone said.

?It?s a great way to raise awareness of the work of the Leukaemia Foundation and the range of free support services we provide to Queenslanders in their time of need.?

?The winner will walk across the bridge along with construction workers who have worked tirelessly to make this bridge a reality for Brisbane.?  The succesful bidder will receive a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

Minister for Public Works, Mr Robert Schwarten MP, said the Government was happy to support the auction where funds raised will go to the Leukaemia Foundation in support of patients and their families living with leukaemias, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders.

?This Bridge is one of the latest projects to be completed as part of the Queensland Government?s record $18.2 billion building program which is helping to protect 127,000 Queensland jobs,? Mr Schwarten said.   

?It?s a $63.3 million pedestrian and bicycle bridge linking the city centre and South Brisbane, completing a pedestrian and bicycle loop linking the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge.

?Its great to be able to combine reaching this great milestone with raising funds for such a worthy cause.?

Bids are invited between September 22 to 29. To place a bid, visit www.ebay.com.au and search for ?Kurilpa Bridge?.

The bridge will officially open to the public on Sunday October 4.

For any details or questions please contact Wayne Gaddes of The Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland on 07 3318 4418.

[ozbob]

http://www.publicworks.qld.gov.au/majorprojects/Pages/KurilpaBridge.aspx

Kurilpa Bridge

On Sunday 4 October 2009 the Kurilpa Bridge will be officially opened by the Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier of Queensland, in a ceremony at Kurilpa Park, South Brisbane.

Following the official proceedings, celebrations will continue throughout Kurilpa Park and the Cultural Centre with a smorgasbord of live family entertainment, children?s activities and a free sausage sizzle, proudly supported by 4KQ while stocks last.

When: Sunday 4 October 2009.
Where: Kurilpa Park, South Brisbane.
Time: Opening Ceremony starts at 10.30 am, with celebrations in Kurilpa Park until 2.30 pm.

Kurilpa Bridge will be open for public access from 11 am. People wishing to cross the Kurilpa Bridge on Sunday 4 October 2009 should do so from Kurilpa Park.

The use of public transport is recommended as parking will be limited.

Road closures:

The following road closure will occur on Sunday 4 October 2009 due to the Kurilpa Bridge opening celebrations.

Tank Street: full closure of Tank Street, from Kurilpa Bridge entry / exit point through to George Street from 6 am to 5 pm.

Motorists will be able to access Kings Parking, Evolution Apartments and Tank Towers parking stations on Tank Street via North Quay during closure times.

Motorists please note: Stanley Place and Montague Road, South Brisbane may experience periods of congestion and high pedestrian use from 10 am to 3 pm.  

[ButFli]

I noticed the sign advertising the opening on the Tank St end of the bridge this morning. To quote a much loved but unfortunately passed Australian icon: "I'm excited".

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail click here!

Kurilpa Bridge opened as footbridge costs soar

Kurilpa Bridge opened as footbridge costs soar
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Darrell Giles

October 03, 2009 11:00pm

FORMER premier Peter Beattie says he regrets not building five footbridges across the Brisbane River.

Mr Beattie opened the Goodwill Bridge in 2001.

While the final bill was $33 million ? a huge blowout on the projected cost of $13 million ? he said five bridges built at the same time would have cost taxpayers about $100 million.

Premier Anna Bligh will today officially open Brisbane's newest pedestrian/cycle river crossing, the Kurilpa Bridge, which carries a price tag of $63.3 million.

The State Government is considering another crossing, linking the CBD to Kangaroo Point, but with soaring costs, that bridge alone would cost at least $80 million.

Thousands of people are expected to turn out today to cross the new Kurilpa Bridge ? the name taken from the Aboriginal name for the area.

Ms Bligh said up to 40,000 people would use it each week to walk between the city centre and the cultural precinct at South Bank.

Ms Bligh denied work had been delayed, although government media releases from 2007 and 2008 predicted a September opening.

There was some controversy in June when a government-commissioned report revealed that part of the bridge span could be vulnerable to "structural failure" if struck by a truck.

But the Government said the part of the bridge over the Riverside Expressway was 5.5m and it would take a "freak accident" involving an illegal vehicle for the bridge to be hit.

Year 12 schoolgirl Georgia McDonald, who was a member of the naming judges panel, said she loved the look of the finished bridge.

Ms McDonald, who will attend the opening today, said her family called it "Georgia's Bridge" in her honour.

"I can't wait to walk on it," she said.

[ozbob]

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
04/10/2009

Stunning bridge opens to the public

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today officially opened the new $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge linking the cultural precinct with the Brisbane CBD.

Up to 20,000 Queenslanders are expected to turn out for the opening with live music, entertainment and a traditional sausage sizzle.

"This is a stunning bridge which has been finished on time and on budget by more than 1050 people were employed on the project during these tough economic times," said the Premier.

"This beautiful piece of infrastructure is an example of the kind of lasting legacy our record is $18.2 billion building program is delivering for the people of Queensland.

"It is anticipated that around 36,500 people will use Kurilpa Bridge each week - to walk to work, to visit our magnificent cultural precinct or simply enjoy the Brisbane River.

"With 1500 people moving into South-East Queensland every week, the demand for improved pedestrian and cycle pathways will grow.

"I am certainly happy that we can meet this practical demand in such an eye pleasing way.

"This new bridge offers expansive views of the river, two large viewing and relaxation platforms, two rest areas and a continuous all-weather canopy for the entire length of the bridge.

"The design is a world-first and an exciting new landmark for our State."

Kurilpa Bridge is the world's largest tensegrity pedestrian and cycle bridge which balances tension and compression components to produce a light but incredibly strong structure.

Named after the Indigenous name for West End, the bridge's array of cables and flying struts are designed to resemble the ropes and spars of sailing ships and boats.

"At night, it is lit with a sophisticated LED lighting scheme which can be programmed to produce a vast array of different lighting effects, which will become a feature of our annual Riverfire celebrations," said the Premier.

Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said the bridge had taken two years to construct.

"Kurilpa Bridge is not just unique in appearance, it is also unique in design and engineering," Mr Schwarten said.

"The bridge is 470 metres long with a width of 6.5 metres and a deck thickness of 25 cm.

"It is built from more than 1500 cubic metres of concrete, 550 tonnes of steel and extensive cabling in excess of 6.8 kms in length.

Mr Schwarten said the bridge promoted healthy lifestyles by encouraging pedestrian and cycling traffic by completing a pedestrian and cycle loop between the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge.

"Not only does the bridge encourage active lifestyles, it is extremely environmentally friendly with 75 per cent of the power required to run the LED lighting in the fully lit mode provided by solar energy.

"In most lighting configurations, 100 per cent of the power will be provided by solar with any surplus power returned to the main grid.

"This will amount to savings of around 37.8 tonnes of carbon emissions each year - quite an achievement.

"No other bridge in the world supplements its power to such a degree - this truly is a world-class bridge in every sense," he said.

The bridge has been programmed to light up in a myriad of colours, and this will be seen during celebrations in Brisbane such as the future annual Riverfire festivities.

The design and construction contractors Baulderstone Pty Ltd constructed the bridge, which was managed and delivered by the Department of Public Works.

Local design consultants Cox Rayner Architects and ARUP Engineers, formed part of the company's design team and worked closely to finalise the design with the Department of Public Works' project team.

=============================================================

[ozbob]

Went for a stroll after the crowds ...



















Photographs R Dow 4th October 2009

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane's controversial Kurilpa Bridge opens

Brisbane's controversial Kurilpa Bridge opens
Article from: AAP

Angela Harper

October 04, 2009 01:00pm

BRISBANE'S new Kurilpa Bridge, at $63.3 million, has been described as a cross between knitting needles, magpie deflectors and a even a boat.
But everyone's agrees one one thing - it's world-first technology.

The footbridge now spanning the Brisbane River paves the way for an estimated 50,000 people to walk and cycle between the CBD and the arts precinct at South Bank each week.

At the official opening this morning, Premier Anna Bligh said its unique "tensegrity" design combined tension and compression.

"This design is a world-first and an exciting new landmark for our state," Ms Bligh, although she added that it reminded her of a sailing ship.

"I've (also) heard it described as knitting needles; the plastic ties that people put on their bike helmets to keep the magpies off ... everyone will have their own view of what it looks like," she said.

Kurilpa is the indigenous name for West End, the Brisbane suburb that is home to the city's arts hub.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Thousands turn out for Kurilpa Bridge opening

Thousands turn out for Kurilpa Bridge opening
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Bruce McMahon

October 04, 2009 11:00pm

THOUSANDS streamed across Brisbane's newest bridge yesterday in a kaleidoscope of colour and citizens as the Kurilpa connection from South Bank to North Quay was opened by Premier Anna Bligh.

Pictures: Kurilpa Bridge opening

The $63 million pedestrian and cycle link would change the face of the river city, Ms Bligh said, declaring the bridge an instant icon.

She praised those who had "dreamt it and built it" and suggested critics of the sculpted structure, with its array of masts and cables, were well out-numbered.

"Whenever you do something bold and risky you will always have knockers," Ms Bligh admitted.

"But there are thousands of people here today voting with their feet. Doesn't it look sensational?

"It's beautiful, it's bold."

And it was also, the Premier added, an example of the kind of lasting legacy the state's record $18.2 billion building program is delivering.

For the thousands of voters who flocked to the official opening and tropical festival, the bridge was "fantastic", "unreal" and "not bad".

There were hundreds of children in free fluoro vests, there were free sausages, balloons, sun shades and music as the tide of people flowed back and forward on this first day in the history of Kurilpa Bridge.

Clever people such as Rodney Beardmore from Morningside brought his camera to capture the river views from the 128m span. Inner-city resident Denise Covey walked, and carried, her dog Foxy Lady and declared she would be using the bridge every day. Dutton Park resident Olaf Grawert could see the sense in this new connection, linking the art precinct at South Bank with the legal precinct in and around North Quay, and for local councillor Helen Abrahams the bridge would become her new cycle route to get to City Hall.

All agreed: build a bridge and we will cross it.

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 October 2009

SEQ:  Kurilpa Bridge makes a statement!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated the Department of Public Works, the Architects and the Builders on the successful completion and opening of the Kurilpa Bridge.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It may surprise some that RAIL Back On Track is a strong advocate of active transport (1). The Kurilpa Bridge is a welcome addition to active transport options for Brisbane. Congratulations to all on the successful completion and opening of the bridge."

"Many citizens including myself took the opportunity to cross the river on the new bridge yesterday. It is a very impressive bridge and will become an icon of Brisbane."

"The road centric transport policy that has characterised south east Queensland for the past 50 years is failing. Little by little real sustainable transport options are slowly being put in place.  Rather than more monuments to the auto mobile there needs to be a continuation of further 'green' bridge construction."

"A 'green' bridge - bus and active transport from Belbowrie to Wacol for example would assist greatly in relieving congestion on Moggill Road and provide residents west of Kenmore with access to the rail facilities at Darra or Wacol.  Another 'green' bridge to allow access across the river from Bulimba/Hawthorne to Teneriffe/New Farm would ease traffic congestion to the CBD providing active transport options and bus access if included."

"Green bridges in Brisbane are already an outstanding success and return savings many times over construction costs in terms of reduced congestion costs and lessened environmental impacts, and also improve travel times.  More 'green' bridges are needed!"

References:

1.  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?board=35.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[albiwan]

"A 'green' bridge - bus and active transport from Belbowrie to Wacol for example would assist greatly in relieving congestion on Moggill Road and provide residents west of Kenmore with access to the rail facilities at Darra or Wacol.  Another 'green' bridge to allow access across the river from Bulimba/Hawthorne to Teneriffe/New Farm would ease traffic congestion to the CBD providing active transport options and bus access if included."

"Green bridges in Brisbane are already an outstanding success and return savings many times over construction costs in terms of reduced congestion costs and lessened environmental impacts, and also improve travel times.  More 'green' bridges are needed!"

A Lohanholme to Edens Landing crossing would also fit this proposal.

[ozbob]

Thanks for your suggestion Albiwan.  Possibly a few more as well.

[ButFli]

a St Lucia to West End pedestrian bridge should be constructed.

[Jon Bryant]

A lane of the Captain Cook Bridge should also be converted to a pedestrian/cycle lane.  This would allow direct access to the Gabba Area from the City.  The Goodwill Bridge is a little too indirect.

[ButFli]

The Kurilpa Bridge is certainly well used. I estimate at least 8000 pedestrians had crossed it by lunch time today.

I have observed a possible flaw in the design though. It seems as though no consideration has been given to how users of the bridge will get to North Quay and the Bicentennial Bikeway. For cyclists there is no direct route that does not require something illegal - either riding the wrong way down the oneway Tank St or riding on the footpath. Pedestrians need to make a very awkward crossing of Tank St.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard 6 Oct 2009

Kurilpa Bridge

Hon. AM BLIGH (South Brisbane?ALP) (Premier and Minister for the Arts) (9.44 am): On Sunday the public were given the chance to walk on the new Kurilpa pedestrian bridge linking the cultural precinct with the Brisbane CBD for the first time. An estimated 20,000 people turned out for the opening. This is a stunning structure which was finished on time and on budget. Thanks go to the more than 1,000 people who were employed on the project. The design and construction contractors Baulderstone Pty Ltd built the bridge. It was managed and delivered by the Department of Public Works and led with great leadership by the Minister for Public Works, who I know has been a great fan of this bridge since day one.

Local design consultants Cox Rayner Architects and Arup Engineers formed part of the company?s design team and worked closely to finalise the design with our Department of Public Works project team. Hats off to the designers and the workers who brought this bridge to fruition. It is an iconic Queensland structure. This beautiful piece of infrastructure is an example of the lasting legacy that our building program is delivering for the people of Queensland. This is a great addition to our capital city. Whether you live in Brisbane or not, it is something that you will visit when you come to our capital from all parts of the state. I hope it is one of the must-dos for the schoolchildren who come here for a visit to parliament. I think it will be a bridge that people who come from other parts of Australia and from other parts of the world will be keen to say they have walked on. We anticipate that we will see more than 36,000 people every week using this bridge. Many of them will be people commuting to work. Opening up this link will allow them to walk to work when it might not have otherwise been possible.

Its design is a world first. It is an exciting new landmark for our state as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. The bridge is the world?s largest tensegrity pedestrian and cycle bridge which balances tension and compression components to produce a light but incredibly strong structure. It is named after the Indigenous name for that peninsula. In the local area it is known as Kurilpa, which means place of the water rat. It was a rich source of food in and around that water area. It is another link that will unify the city. As the local member for South Brisbane, I was pleased to be joined by the local member for Brisbane Central, Grace Grace, because it is another opportunity for our constituents to cross the river on a much easier basis.

Already it has people talking about what it looks like. Whether you love it or hate it, it is a design that people are talking about. Some say it reminds them of a fishing trawler at sea. Others say it reminds them of knitting needles. I have heard people say that it reminds them of the plastic ties that stick out the top of many bike helmets during magpie season, which is a quintessentially Brisbane thing. I am sure in time people around the world will also be talking about it as they start to see it featured in architectural and engineering magazines.

The bridge also changes colour. We expect that on State of Origin night we will see it looking very red, pink on Breast Cancer Awareness Day and green on St Patrick?s Day. It will also be a feature every year now in the annual Riverfire Festival. On a more serious note, it is a bridge that will promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging pedestrian and cycling traffic by completing a pedestrian and cycle loop between the city and South Bank via the Goodwill Bridge. I am pleased to say that my running group was out on it this morning, and there were many other people out and about, all keen to have their first chance to run, ride or walk across this great bridge.

Ms Spence: I rode over it this morning.

Ms BLIGH: The Leader of the House tells me she rode over it this morning. It is a great addition to that cycle loop.

It is also an environmentally friendly bridge, with 75 per cent of the power required to run the LED lighting in the fully lit mode provided by solar energy. In most lighting configurations 100 per cent of the power will be provided by solar, with any surplus power being returned to the grid. This amounts to a saving of some 37.8 tonnes of carbon emissions every year. No other bridge in the world supplements its power to such a degree. It is a great outcome for our capital city. Again, I congratulate all involved with it and particularly the oversight by the minister and the Department of Public Works.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here

Kurilpa Bridge now a work of genius

Kurilpa Bridge now a work of genius
Marissa Calligeros
November 25, 2010 - 11:38AM

River City bridges

The Kurilpa Bridge

   * The Kurilpa Bridge
   * The Gateway Bridge/ The Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges
   * The Victoria Bridge
   * The Walter Taylor Bridge
   * The Goodwill Bridge
   * The Go Between Bridge
   * The Eleanor Schonell Bridge
   * The Story Bridge
   * The Indooroopilly Railway Bridge
   * The Captain Cook Bridge
   * The William Jolly Bridge
   * The Centenary Bridge
   * The Merivale Bridge

It has been described as oversized knitting needles, a mobile magpie deflector and even a dead spider lying on its back.

Critics of Brisbane's Kurilpa Bridge believe it is an eyesore, but there are plenty of admirers who believe the structure is an elegant and iconic piece of infrastructure.

Despite the conflicting views, the $63.3 million footbridge, spanning the Brisbane River from West End to the CBD, has now been hailed a work of engineering genius.

The design and construction team, including engineering firms Baulderstone and Arup and architect Cox Rayner, this week received an Australian Engineering Excellence Award.

The 425-metre bridge is the world's first pedestrian and cycle way that is balanced by a combination of tension components and cabling.

Baulderstone and Arup's work on the Kurilpa Bridge project was first recognised by Engineers Australia at last month's Queensland awards, where they were jointly awarded the Project Infrastructure Excellence Award, and the Innovation Award.

The footbridge, which opened to the public last October, caters for an estimated 50,000 pedestrians and cyclists to travel between the CBD and the arts precinct at South Bank each week.

Baulderstone General Manager Queensland Stephen Green said the bridge made a ''creative statement'' about the River City.

"The success of Kurilpa is an example of a team of innovators and professionals who came together to produce a piece of infrastructure that unites a city and also makes a creative statement about Brisbane," he said.

"It delivers an iconic national landmark and a vital connection between the Brisbane CBD and the city's cultural heart through innovative and unique design, engineering and construction."

[ozbob]

Minister for Public Works and Information and Communication Technology
The Honourable Robert Schwarten
26/11/2010

KURILPA BRIDGE RECOGNISED WITH NATIONAL ENGINEERING AWARD

Kurilpa Bridge has been recognised with an Australian Engineering Excellence Award at Engineers Australia's 2010 national awards presentation in Canberra late this week.

Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said the $63.3 million Kurilpa Bridge competed against more than 40 other engineering projects which had been awarded state engineering excellence awards.

"Kurilpa Bridge was selected as one of just six 2010 Australian Engineering Excellence Award winners at this high profile event," Mr Schwarten said.

"To be recognised with this award ahead of other outstanding infrastructure projects across Australia is a great reflection on the quality of work the Queensland Government manages.

"Kurilpa Bridge has quickly become a distinctive part of the inner-city landscape in Brisbane, used by visitors and locals alike.

"More than 1.5 million cyclists and pedestrians have crossed the award-winning Kurilpa Bridge, which links North Quay and the cultural precinct at Southbank, in its first year.

"I am delighted that the world's first major tensegrity bridge has again been honoured on the national stage."

Mr Schwarten said the bridge was the result of a successful partnership with industry, which resulted in a world class piece of infrastructure.

"The design and construction contractors Baulderstone Pty Ltd constructed the bridge, with the procurement and delivery process managed by the Department of Public Works.

"Local consultants Cox Rayner Architects and Arup formed part of the Baulderstone team, responsible for architectural and engineering design respectively.

"The designers and constructors worked closely with the Department of Public Works' project team, and this collaboration was one of the key factors that contributed to the project's success.

"The bridge is a unique architectural and engineering system in which the structural integrity is a synergy between balanced tension and compression components.

"I'm very proud of the industry recognition the Department of Public Works and its partners have received for this project.

"This latest prestigious engineering award highlights again the important role that the Queensland Government is playing in the roll out of quality infrastructure throughout Queensland."

Engineers Australia is the largest and most diverse professional body for engineers in Australia, with more than 85,000 members.

==============================================================

[#Metro]

I used to think this bridge was so ugly. But now I have gotten used to it, I actually really like it.
Much like the other famous buildings- The Sydney Opera house or the Paris Eiffel tower.

People nearly fell over in horror and disgust when they were first unveiled.

[ozbob]

I watched the bridge being built almost daily so was very comfortable with it.  But something I have noticed, both the Kurilpa Bridge and Indooroopilly Railway station both seem to elicit strong reactions either for or against, but they both look very nice at night.  If people saw them at night I am sure they would think Indooroopilly rail was almost as good as Kurilpa bridge ...

[Stillwater]

Not everything in the adjacent art gallery is to everyone's taste and thank God we all don't have the same house design and colour scheme.  Imagine what a boring old concrete utilitarian arch structure would say about Brisbane to visitors and tourists.  Given the precinct that it serves, its appropriate that the Kuripla Bridge is the engineering equivalent of a work of art.

[ozbob]

Bridge seems to holding up well, and is well used.





Photographs R Dow 4th October 2011

[Mozz]

Love the Kurilpa Bridge - use it most days :-)

[dwb]

I want more!

Toowong to West End
Bulimba to Newstead
City to Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point to New Farm

!!

[SurfRail]

The Gold Coast strategy is better - 10 functional bridges for $5m each instead of 1 bridge for $50m:

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6873.0

[dwb]

The Gold Coast strategy is better - 10 functional bridges for $5m each instead of 1 bridge for $50m:

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6873.0

Hmmm well the way I see it, the Brisbane river is a slightly different boundary than canals are, but I broadly agree, many bridges are beter than fewer big bridges. However I frame it this way, what would the $450mil spent on Hale St/ Go Between Bridge have delivered the city as pedestrian/cycles bridges... all those that I identified x2!

And I still believe they should be "pretty" and inspirational, Kurilpa is one of my favorite built features in Brisbane - it talks to me about history and future in a way that the Go Between (which no one could argue is 'iconic') never could. [sorry for double neg]

Other iconic bridges include Sydney Harbour and Storey Bridge - they will always have a place in people's memory more so than Victoria Bridge or Go Between Bridge and a large part of that is that they are beautiful!

[Golliwog]

Architecture world salutes Brisbane's Kurilpa Bridge
Tony Moore
November 6, 2011 - 2:17PM


Brisbane's Kurilpa Bridge has been judged the world's best transport project at the World Architectural Awards in Barcelona.

It is the first Queensland project to win a World Architecture Award and the second time designer Cox Rayner Architects has taken out a World Architecture Award.

The Kurilpa Bridge, which spans the Brisbane River near the Gallery of Modern Art at South Brisbane's Kurilpa Point, was judged the World Transport Building of the Year at the World Architecture Festival last week.
Advertisement: Story continues below

Architect Michael Rayner flew to Barcelona to ''pitch'' the bridge project after it was short-listed earlier this week.

In a quote sent from the plane as he makes his way back to Brisbane, Mr Rayner said the firm was thrilled to win the award.

''We are extremely excited to win this award for Queensland's Kurilpa Bridge, especially having won the award last year for the Helix Bridge in Singapore,'' he said.

''The judges were extremely impressed with the originality of the design and site specific relationship to the location and its context,'' he said.

''It prioritises Brisbane as a subtropical walking and cycling city.''

Mr Rayner said the award would be valuable for the local design industry.

''It is the first Queensland project to win a World Architecture Festival Award and we are especially pleased because it demonstrates how Queensland architecture has reached a clear world standard.''

Cox Rayner office manager Kim Richards said Mr Rayner was nervous ''making the pitch'' because of the quality of entrants, especially architect Zaha Hadid.

''If you are shortlisted, you have to travel to Barcelona to present your project to a jury,'' Ms Richards said.

''It was a pretty big call because Zaha Hadid is a pretty famous architect who had designed a bridge in the United Arab Emirates.

''And we have won against that, which is pretty exciting for us.''

The Kurilpa Bridge was designed by Cox Rayner Architects to represent the ships who once sailed into the Brisbane River in the city's infancy.

It was opened in October 2009 and has quickly become a highlight for tourists visiting the city. The Kurilpa Bridge won against transport projects from China, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates.

The other finalists were:

    The Sheikh Zayed Bridge, by Zaha Hadid Architects, in the United Arab Emirates;
    the Guangzhou South Railway Station, by TFP Farrells Ltd, in China;
    the Malmö Central Station, by Metro Arkitekter, in Sweden;
    the Rotterdam Traffic Control Centre,by  Broekbakema in The Netherlands; and
    a Multi-Storey Car Park, Hypostyle Architects, in the United Kingdom.
    This is what the architectural award judges said of the Kurilpa Bridge.

"The bridge appears to 'float' over the river. The structural elements seem to be abstractly suspended in the air making the bridge very different, functional, unique and sculptural."

It is the latest in a series of design wins for the bridge, built by construction contractors Baulderstone Pty Ltd for $63.3 million in 2009.

It has previously won:

    National Institute of Buildings Award 2011 - Professional Infrastructure Award for Civil Infrastructure;
    the Engineers Australia (National) 2010 Australian Engineering Excellence Award;
    the Australian Institute of Architects Award 2010: Karl Langer Medal for Urban Design;
    the Consult Australia 2010 Awards for Excellence: Gold Award of Merit in Transport & Civil and Award of special merit – Project of the Year; and the
    Australian Steel Institute – 2010 Queensland Steel Awards: Winner Structural Engineering, High Commendation Engineering Projects Infrastructure and Mining.

Minister for Building Industry, Simon Finn, announced the firms' win today.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/architecture-world-salutes-brisbanes-kurilpa-bridge-20111106-1n1q7.html#ixzz1ctlpHpFd

[ButFli]

So glad that the Kurilpa Bridge won this prize for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it is a truly worthy structure. Secondly, it means Zaha Hadid didn't win. Her designs, while unusual, pay no attention to the surrounding space or their intended use. So much so that while she wins many design competitions, her buildings are often never built because the projects are shelved. Has anyone seen her design for the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre? Completely inappropriate! I feel she is only well received in the architecture world because she is an Iraqi woman in a profession dominated by Western males. Just sayin.

[Set in train]

So glad that the Kurilpa Bridge won this prize for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it is a truly worthy structure. Secondly, it means Zaha Hadid didn't win. Her designs, while unusual, pay no attention to the surrounding space or their intended use. So much so that while she wins many design competitions, her buildings are often never built because the projects are shelved. Has anyone seen her design for the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre? Completely inappropriate! I feel she is only well received in the architecture world because she is an Iraqi woman in a profession dominated by Western males. Just sayin.

I've seen the transit centre design but console myself there is no money, by which time, there'll be a rethink hopefully.

Hopefully the whole world is not like left wing Australia with reverse discrimination rearing its ugly head that this architect is successful at awards rather than or merit.

[Set in train]

I want more!

Toowong to West End

That is why Dornoch Tce travels over Boundary St via bridge, to allow for access to UQ. Either the Spanish Flu or Depression prevented the bridge from being constructed.

[O_128]

This is terrible, It means something in Brisbane is actually world class 

And with the west end bridge, The whole reason UQ moved to st lucia was that the council was going to build a tram bridge over in the 50s.

[dwb]

This is terrible, It means something in Brisbane is actually world class 

And with the west end bridge, The whole reason UQ moved to st lucia was that the council was going to build a tram bridge over in the 50s.

And something to do with the fact that they were given a lot of free land there...

[dwb]

I've seen the transit centre design but console myself there is no money, by which time, there'll be a rethink hopefully.

Hopefully the whole world is not like left wing Australia with reverse discrimination rearing its ugly head that this architect is successful at awards rather than or merit.

I feel she is only well received in the architecture world because she is an Iraqi woman in a profession dominated by Western males. Just sayin.

Off topic, inappropriate and offensive. Just sayin.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Who cares. We still have scafholding.... oh wait that's the bridge. Just sayin.

[O_128]

Who cares. We still have scafholding.... oh wait that's the bridge. Just sayin.

I personally love it. Cox rayner probably went into suburbia and showed proposals and the one that was hated the most got chosen

[Mr X]

I don't get what type of bridge those who complain would want.
The Eleanor Schonell is really nice but if they copied it, people would complain that the architects had run out of ideas.
The Go Between Bridge, Captain Cook and Gateway bridges are boring and if we built something boring, people would say it's boring and complain that it ruins the skyline.
If we built something in an "old" design to mimic old bridges (such as those in Melbourne), people would complain that it's "fake" and too Melbournesque.
If we had no bridge people from the new development along Montague Road would complain about the annoying walk via Victoria or William Jolly bridges.

So what does that leave us with?  

[ButFli]

And with the west end bridge, The whole reason UQ moved to st lucia was that the council was going to build a tram bridge over in the 50s.

So I guess that means they saw two decades into the future when they established the site in 1929? :

[O_128]

And with the west end bridge, The whole reason UQ moved to st lucia was that the council was going to build a tram bridge over in the 50s.

So I guess that means they saw two decades into the future when they established the site in 1929? :

I just remember getting told it in planning 101. I know they were given the land by the farmers there but they were reluctant to move as back then it was the equiv of ipswich from the city so they BCC said they would build a boundary street bridge and bring trams to UQ.