London-based Useful Studio has connected a tube station to a business park in Chiswick, west London, with a pedestrian bridge made from weathering steel.
Named Chiswick Park Footbridge, the pedestrian bridge forms part of a route between a London Underground station and the Chiswick Business Park.
"The bridge is designed to enable better connectivity and a safe enjoyable journey between the business park and the wider community along with access to the transport network and Chiswick Tube Station," explained Catherine Ramsden founding director of Useful Studio.

The bridge was built from three weathering steel arches that increase in height from west to east as the spans grow. This means that the path curves around an existing building, creating the most efficient route. Useful Studio chose the material due to its durable nature as the bridge's location over train lines means that any maintenance needed would be costly. The studio aimed to create a "zero maintenance" bridge.

"Bridges typically have a 120-year life which puts a huge performance demand on the materials and detailing," said Ramsden.
"Network Rail enhances this demand by restricting access for ongoing maintenance and retrofit. Work over live rail lines require a formal possession ? these are exceptionally costly and require a long lead time for scheduling. Therefore it is better to design out this need by using materials that are self-weathering with a long life."

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