Light-weight and transparent-a glass bridge in Lisbon

The "Centre of the Unknown", a recently completed biomedical research facility of the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal, was designed by Charles Correa Associates from Mumbai, India. It comprises two building complexes setin a large public area that accommodate treatment units, research laboratories, an auditorium and exhibition area, as well as the offices of the Champalimaud Foundation itself. The 'Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown' is located in the Belém district of Lisbon, where the Tagus River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. Its location is of particular historical significance, as it is the place from where Portuguese pioneers set sail to discover the 'unknown'in the 15th and 16th centuries. A visual highlight is the light-weight steel and glass bridge that connects the two buildings. The glass envelope encasing the bridge consists of curved panels of laminated glass. A filigree cable supported steel structure also forms the substructure of the glass envelope. The walkway and the railing also consist of laminated safety glass and thereby confer upon the entire structure the desired sense of elegance and transparency. The technical report addresses the various requirements of this out of the ordinary bridge and outlines the bridge design from conceptual design to completion (Fig. 1). © Ernst & Sohn Verlag für Architektur und technische Wissenschaften GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin.