Austin City Living Bridge

Offering unhindered views of the surrounding natural and man-made beauties of the urban core of Austin, a proposed curved bridge will allow for pedestrian crossing from the lawn of Auditorium Shores to the new library on the north side of Lady Bird Lake.  The vegetation offers food to pollinator species and a unique experience to Austin residents and tourists, reminding them of the beauty and culture that Austin provides.

Starting at the line of Live Oaks beside Auditorium Shores, a person would walk north towards the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue and continue past onto the bridge that slowly envelops the visitor in a tunnel of colorful blooming vines that hides the ascension up a gentle slope.  The Lattice Tunnel shades the visitor from the harsh summer sun, and gives him/her an experiential shift from dark to light.  The visitor emerges onto a 20 foot tall elevated ground plane above the water, and it is here that a respite from the busyness of the city can be achieved, as the calmness of the lake and color of the flowers delights the senses and reminds the visitor of the beauty that Austin can offer.  

This design project manifests the value of allowing for a personal experience within the immediate surroundings while paying full respect to the environment in which it resides.