Albi, a charming medieval city in the south of France, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on the banks of the Tarn River, it features an iconic railway viaduct built in the 1800s out of locally-produced brick. While the viaduct is still in use by modern-day rail services, the city wanted to make the feature more accessible to pedestrians. They contracted with architecture firm Ney & Partners and landscape architecture firm MS-A for a solution, which was finally completed this year.
The duo knocked it out of the park, so to speak.
As Ney & Partners explains:
The city aimed to make better of use the existing public space to:
– Encourage and improve sustainable mobility in the city center.
– Provide better access to the peripheral neighborhoods.
– Support the implementation of the management plan for the episcopal city.
How? By using the iconic railway viaduct, still in operation and owned by @SNCF, and designing a lightweight steel footbridge attached to the viaduct’s masonry structure.
Ney & Partners collaborated with landscape architects @msa.brussels , who were responsible for designing the two open spaces at both ends of the bridge. This approach ensured that the bridge became part of a network of smaller public spaces within the city center.
The result is a unique visual experience for those crossing the Tarn River, offering new perspectives that emphasize Albi’s historic character and deepen visitors’ appreciation of the city.
Just one week after the bridge opened to the public, the people of Albi have already embraced the new city bridge as a vibrant meeting point.
As a reminder of how long it takes to make beautiful things, the project began in 2013!