Hull City, United Kingdom

“This project presented a great opportunity to re-establish vital connections across the highway and to create a series of new public places for people to enjoy the city,” says Jonathan McDowell, director at Matter Architecture, who began the project at former practice McDowell+Benedetti.

“It’s wonderful to see people beginning to make use of the new routes and viewpoints, and we are proud to see the dramatic form of the bridge already becoming a landmark within the city’s identity.”

Matter Architecture’s new iconic Princes Quay Bridge designed for Highways England has opened to improve pedestrian and cycle connection over the heavily trafficked A63 road in Hull City center.

Named “Murdoch’s Connection” – after the city’s first female GP, Dr Mary Murdoch–the footbridge design includes extensive landscaped public spaces at each side.

The bridge creates a distinctive new landmark and gateway to the Old Town.

With integrated soft and hard landscaped spaces at the approaches, the design provides a variety of new routes and places for people to enjoy the journey, and new views over the city and docks.

The deck of the 40m span bridge is suspended from a steel arch/shell structure.

Defined by a white finish and gently curved appearance, the structure also acts as a canopy and creates sheltered viewpoints at each end.

Both ends of the bridge have been designed as landscaped public spaces, with places to rest and look out over the city.

Terraced landscaping screens the traffic while accommodating both stepped and accessible sloping routes up to the bridge.

Fabricated in sections by SH Structures using double-curved steel plate, the 150-tonne bridge structure was assembled near the site then transported down the highway.

Project: Princes Quay Bridge, Hull (Murdoch’s Connection)
Architects: Matter Architecture
Design Team: Interserve, SH Structures
Client: Highways England
Photographers: Luke O’Donovan