Two of the proposed landmark projects for the East of England have secured strong support following the results of feasibility studies. The East of England Development Agency (EEDA) now plans to assist the teams behind Landscape East, Bridge of Reeds project and the Watermarking bridge project to turn their visions into a reality for the region.
The outcomes of the feasibility studies for the winning entries funded by EEDA were announced by George Kieffer, deputy chairman, EEDA at Quy Mill, close to the proposed site of the Bridge of Reeds entry to the north east of Cambridge.
Richard Ellis, EEDA’s chairman said:
“This represents a significant milestone in the landmark east project as these teams are now in a good position to get to work on turning their ideas into something real. These visionary projects will create inspiring landmarks that capture the essence of the East of England, evoking pride and unity as well as stimulating a tangible economic benefit for the region. Subject to further discussion, we hope to announce further support from EEDA for these projects over the coming months.
We are still in the early stages of the landmark east project and I hope that in time we will see many more of the entries come to fruition to help enrich the culture of the region and its communities.”
Landscape East, Bridge of Reeds, will span the A14 linking the expansion of the Wicken Fen nature reserve with Cambridge and providing access to 6,000 hectares of green space. The bridge will take the form of a dramatic 177 ft tall sculpture inspired by the wind blown reeds and flights of birds of the East of England landscape and will provide both a physical and metaphorical gateway to social, cultural and environmental opportunities in the region. Construction is planned to start in 2008.
Jonathon Porritt, environmental campaigner and co-founder of the Forum for the Future, said: "The Bridge of Reeds is going to be an enormously important landmark for the East of England. Too often people take for granted the precious natural habitats in and around our cities. The Cambridge area is thriving, one of the fastest areas for development in the country, and so it is more crucial than ever that nature reserves such as Wicken Fen and the surrounding countryside are valued and even greater access is provided for people in local communities.
"The expanded Wicken Fen Vision and the major linking bridge from city to countryside will help to protect that environment, and keep the connection with the natural world in people's everyday lives."
Watermarking is a proposal for movable ‘Dragonfly’ bridge to be used as a focus for riverside events or festivals. Each bridge would serve a practical purpose literally bridging communities and could also be used as a performance venue. The design of the bridge is challenging in terms of the innovative technology and design techniques required to make it achieve its many potential functions as well as ensuring it can be moved along the regions waterways, its arrival an event in itself. The concept behind the Watermarking entry is to unite communities and positively exploit the major natural resource of the region’s waterways without leaving a damaging permanent imprint on the landscape. The feasibility study generated interest from a number of locations including Bedford where Bedford Borough Council is strongly supportive of the concept.
The Dunwich feasibility study concluded that, although the churches are technically feasible, the project faces a range of issues. Dunwich is an area with a large number of environmental designations including SSSI (site of special scientific interest) and AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty). There are also significant transport and infrastructure issues which, when combined with the environmental issues and strength of public feeling, would make it difficult for the project to attract funding. However, feedback from members of the public over the last year indicated widespread admiration for the sculptures and their evocative depiction of the impact of coastal erosion. The team is therefore exploring alternative locations for a generic sculpture elsewhere on the coast to symbolise the impact of coastal erosion. They are expected to report back in September 2005.
The feasibility study for the fourth winning entry, East Reef, is not yet complete because it is a more wide ranging project. To date this team has focused primarily on developing the concept and finding a suitable site. Sea Palling in Norfolk was the site originally proposed but the team is also exploring the potential for East Reef at Jaywick which would see the project as a focus for regeneration. East Reef’s feasibility study is expected to be completed in autumn 2005.
The landmark east international ideas competition was open to anyone with the ability to develop and deliver a visionary idea for a landmark – a sustainable icon representing the region to the rest of the world. Over 200 entries were received from across the world, and a number of the schemes are being taken forward by their project teams. Those with an interest in the landmark east project can find out more and record their own opinion of the outcomes by visiting www.landmarkeast.org.uk
Notes to editors:
• EEDA is the regional development agency for the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk). It acts as a regional catalyst for economic development and is leading the project at this stage but once a winner is agreed, it will become more of a facilitator.
The four entries selected to receive funding for feasibility studies were:
• Landscape East
A bridge of reeds, spanning the A14 near Cambridge – a sculptural icon offering access from the heart of the region to 6,000 hectares of much needed green space in one of the fastest growing areas of the country. The project team brings together the National Trust, Greater Cambridge Partnership, Mott Macdonald (project managers), LDA Design (lead designers) and the Marshall Group working with the Highways Agency on the proposed project.
Construction aims to start in 2008 following an initial fund raising and design stage. It is proposed that the project comprise three phases:
- Phase I: The Bridge of Reeds, with the initial section of the Wicken Drove connecting the bridge to existing rights of way.
- Phase II: Remaining length of the Wicken Drove, linking existing rights of way across the Fens from the Bridge up to the Wicken Fen. This stage may take several years to complete.
- Phase III: The Gate Visitor Centre. The possible Visitor Centre will be built with sustainable principles in mind.
• Watermarking across the region
This idea is about bringing different communities, cultures and parts of the region together with a movable ‘Dragonfly’ bridge which would be a focus for events and riverside performances across the region. The bridge would cross canals, rivers or watercourses across the East of England region, providing a showcase for visitors and evoke a sense of civic pride in the local community.
The conceptual aims of the Watermarking project are:
- To create a bridge across chosen waterways, transporting people safely from one back to another
- A system to adjust to differing river widths
- A versatile structure that will fold or disassemble into the hull of a water craft for transportation
- A single entity that can be transported by the waterways it is designed to bridge
- A mobile landmark whose presence signals an event and whose use is an event.
The project team consists of Urban Initiatives (planning consultancy), Glen Howells Architects and Martin Stockley Associates.
• Dunwich
‘Dunwich’ is a dramatic project designed to explain the impact of coastal erosion and the forces of nature which control it by rebuilding the six major churches of the lost Anglo Saxon city of Dunwich as steel sculptures at their original place and height. The team is now pursuing alternative sites for a single sculpture.
Team: Anne Niemann and Johannes Ingrisch
• East Reef
East Reef is a man made reef that aims to protect and celebrate a stretch of the East of England¹s unique coastline. The sculptural stepping stones of the reef would be linked by an elevated sweeping promenade, linked to the coast and providing panoramic views back over the region and out to sea. The promenade, a linear stage for outdoor activities such as walking and cycling, links a number of reef 'gardens'. East Reef would be an anchor for local watersport amenities, the focus of which will be an offshore tropical diving centre, the first of its kind in the UK. East Reef could demonstrate the potential for additional functionality of reefs as a catalyst for tourism-led regeneration.
Team: Glowacka Rennie with Expedition Engineering and Arup
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