the Pinjarup and Wiilman Aborginal people
Western Australia
The 105m long Dwaarlindjirraap suspension bridge crosses the Murray River close to the Baden Powell campground and forms the central element of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails experience (Dwellingup & TrailsWA Projects), a 30km+ dedicated single track mountain bike trail and upgrade of 8km of the existing Munda Biddi Trail.
The bridge is located in a natural setting within a National Park, the Murray River has significant cultural heritage value. The trails project anchors the ongoing development of Dwellingup as a major tourism centre for the region.
The bridge enables a new experience of the Murray River, an opportunity to engage with the river and the dynamic environment. Movement and exposure to the elements are carefully considered and balanced with requirements for safety and significant visitor numbers with differing accessibility needs.
The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project ArchitectureÌý
Dwaarlindjirraap Bridge has developed to be the local landmark in Dwellingup crossing over Murray River for mountain bike trail upgrade project by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions forming a part of the larger Munda Biddi trail.
Built out of uncoated weathering steel, the bridge tower appears as gate whilst paradoxically blends itself with its natural setting of trees. The bridge is designed with minimal material and interruption to existing flora and fauna and in respect of the river edge and site of cultural significance and also balancing against robustness, fire, and flood resistance.
The repetition of steel stanchions echoes the rhythm of tree trunks of surrounding forest, and the almost invisible stainless-steel rope mesh balustrade allows significant visibility across the bridge.
Looking at, traversing, and looking from, the bridge allows a new visual and spatial experience to engage with Murray River and its dynamic environment by cyclists and pedestrians with differing accessibility needs.
This project exemplifies the outstanding contribution architecture can make to infrastructure as well as in a natural and landscape setting such as that of a National Park, improving the cultural value of the environment.
Commendation – COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
The Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge is the result of a successful collaboration between the architect, client, structural engineer and builder. The elegant simplicity of form and disciplined response to pragmatic concerns, including; equitable access, flood, fire, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the river; yield an unexpected poetry. The custom but repetitive fabrication of the weathering steel structure, tilts, cranks and fillets at the edges, creating a landmark form that exudes a quiet strength, harmoniously sited amongst the beauty of its environment.