Trestles Beach footbridge by Dan Brill Architects

Dan Brill Architects of the UK are among 12 international practices shortlisted to design a pedestrian footbridge for Trestles Beach, a surf spot in southern California.

The Safe Trestles design competition, organised by Architecture for Humanity, sought designs that give provide surfers access to the beach from the road on the bluff above, carrying them safely across a railway line while protecting the fragile dunes.

The competition winner will be announced on Friday 7 May. See the shortlist and vote for your favourite here.

Here’s some info from Dan Brill Architects:

DAN BRILL ARCHITECTS SHORTLISTED AS ONLY UK PRACTICE IN INTERNATIONAL DESIGN COMPETITION

Winchester-based Dan Brill Architects are the only UK practice to have been shortlisted as one of 12 semi-finalists for the design of a pedestrian footbridge in southern California.

Hosted by Architecture for Humanity, the Safe Trestles international design competition received over 100 entries for the design of a safe and low-impact access route to Trestles Beach, home to one of North America’s most prized surfing spots and the 6.0 Lowers Pro surf event. Every year more than 100,000 people follow informal trails through marshlands and over active train tracks to access the beach, presenting a safety hazard with passing trains and a threat to the marine habitat that is home to a number of endangered animal species and important flora.

In delivering a safe and ADA compliant route between the existing parking lot and beach, Dan Brill Architect’s proposal provides an inspirational and captivating design solution that preserves and enhances the co-existence of a delicate coastal ecology and a recreational surf spot.

Made of welded weathering steel plate, the structure is capable of spanning large distances, thereby requiring minimal foundations within the wetlands and safely clearing prevailing railway easements. The weathered steel plate also provides a resilient and robust finish requiring minimal maintenance in the sea air. In contrast with the steel plate, weathered timber decking provides a warm & tactile surface underfoot.

The proposal provides a new entrance to Trestles Beach from the existing parking lot, and incorporates elements of currently lacking infrastructure: toilets, showers, seating, drinking fountains, recycling bins, and a kiosk or information point.

The bridge varies between 3.5 to 7 metres in width, and incorporates two widened seating areas along its length, positioned to take in dramatic vistas across the wetlands and along the coastline. Educational signage is also incorporated, raising public awareness of the habitat and its endangered species.

The route terminates at Trestles Beach, and incorporates a plinth of informal spectator seating with toilet facilities and bicycle parking below. A lifeguard tower has also been incorporated into the design.

Design Analysis

The existing site currently has no direct access or connection to the riverfront. Therefore, by proposing a boardwalk there is potential for user to connect to the river and also experience the natural beauty of the site.


Existing historical sheds currently has no real purpose or use to users passing by. The shed has the potential to be utilised as a restaurant, cafe, museum etc. The existing sheds can be opened up to the river and have better access throughout the site.


The existing cliff is a very important asset to the site where the proposal can be design to enhance the natural environment. The design can integrate into the natural cliff face and also provide a contrast between the new and old.

Thermal Baths, San Pellegrino

earlier this year, dominique perrault architecture was selected as the winner of the international competition to design the thermal baths of san pellegrino in italy. their plan presented a city plan which created a new quarter in the town. in this new quarter they proposed a main building which would add to the cities other main structures, the grad hotel and the casino. the architects used the landscape and geography as a key reference point for the designing of new structures. buildings are made to look like stone blocks, as if they have fallen from the nearby mountains. all the windows on these stone-like buildings are coloured to let in a mild glow for the thermal baths and other spa areas. the interior emphasizes serenity, contrasting to the jagged exterior. the project is slated for completion in 2010.

Thermal Baths, San Pellegrino, Italy

Earlier this year, Dominique Perrault architecture was selected as the winner of the International Competition to design the thermal baths of San Pellegrino in Italy. Their plan presented a city plan which created a new quarter in the town. in this new quarter they proposed a main building which would add to the cities other main structures, the grad hotel and the casino. The architects used the landscape and geography as a key reference point for the designing of new structures. Buildings are made to look like stone blocks, as if they have fallen from the nearby mountains. All the windows on these stone-like buildings are coloured to let in a mild glow for the thermal baths and other spa areas. The interior emphasizes serenity, contrasting to the jagged exterior. The project is slated for completion in 2010.

JeJu Island Heritage Center

South Korea’s Jeju Island is known for its outstanding aesthetic beauty — it’s an area that bears testament to the compelling natural history of our planet. Listed as a UNESCO site, the island will soon be host to a new World Natural Heritage Center. The center is anticipated to become a meeting place set to educate and promote the importance of preserving the island and its heritage for future generations to come.

As one would rightly assume, building on a UNESCO site is a delicate issue. Designed by Kyungam Architects and Sun Architects & Engineers, the structure fits amicably within the existing landscape, following the natural undulations of the surrounding hills and volcanic mountains. The outer walls utilize Materuak Hyunmuam, a local material, and the building features a large open cut roof and glass windows that improve natural light and ventilation.

The World Natural Heritage Center will consist of areas dedicated to exhibition, education, research, and maintenance. The building will be crowned with an expansive green roof that accounts for the displacement of the existing vegetation of the site, while providing panoramic views of the much celebrated Halla-san Volcano.

Boh Visitor Centre

Building Structure

The choice to use metalwork was based strictly on the need to reduce on site construction activities. We were also contemplating to expedite erection of steel frames in order to mitigate delivery problems of the tea leaves to the currently operating factory nearby. The structural components were kept very simple, using mainly standard section sizes. No major welding were done, except for smaller components. The side windows and facade were fabricated off site and assembled quickly and put into place between posts on a span of 9m grid. The steelwork is limited strictly to the upper storey structure, this is then assembled in situ to sit atop a reinforced concrete frame consisting on 350×1000 deep beams spanning the 9m grid. The floor slabs are then finished in exposed but sealant treated cement render. These were applied a dark receding colour. The ramped concrete floor allows for a truck and general vehicles to pass under for the next phase of construction.

Roof Structure

Roof is constructed of a simple mild steeel edge capping assembled to terminate the open trussed metal beams. Such devices were used to reduce the weight of the structure overall and also to ease the distribution of services inside the voids between the trusses. A sligth slope towards the back allows draining of the rainwater of the roof towards only one side of the roof which simplifies building elevation treatment.

Holocaust Memorial, Germany