A pedestrian bridge connecting picnic areas at Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens.
Team Members: Tom Maynard and Paras Notaras
The University of Melbourne
The submission details the design, structural analysis, and optimization of Lakeview Passage, a pedestrian bridge connecting picnic areas at Melbourne’s Royal Botanical Gardens.
Design Concept
- The bridge links two picnic peninsulas, offering new water views and easier park traversal.
- Uses lightweight steel, timber, and corten steel to blend with the garden’s atmospheric qualities.
- Designed for minimal presence, visibility through the structure, and boat passage underneath.
Design Process
- Employed Grasshopper and Rhinoceros 8 for parametric modeling and customization.
- Parameters include length, width, railing height, and foundation size.
- Geometry was divided, mirrored, and supported with vertical and diagonal bracing.
- Supports, footpath surface, and end panels were created through curve division and lofting.
Structural Analysis & Optimization
- Used Karamba3D and Galapagos to analyze and optimize for minimal displacement.
- Findings indicated higher truss counts reduce deflection; a 7cm x 15cm cross-section was optimal.
- The final design closely follows a catenary curve for structural efficiency and usability.
- Material choices include Corten steel for framing, glulam timber for decking, and concrete for foundations.
Final Details
- Structural components include steel RHS profiles, timber planks, and stainless steel handrails.
- The model was physically represented with wire and cardboard for visualization.
- Drawings and detailed sections support construction and further analysis.
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