Son of a Shingle - Vaksali pedestrian bridge and subways
The pedestrian intersection in Vaksali, a district of Tartu in Estonia, was completed in 2021. Designed by architects Sille Pihlak and Siim Tuksam (PART architects) as a „scenic ensemble“, the bridge and two tunnels have become an attraction. According to the Estonian Tourist Board, the crossing is one of the most popular photo spots in the city. The design is currently on the shortlist for the Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture, which will be presented this year. What is special is that only one other Estonian project has been shortlisted so far.
The two architects comment on their design as follows: „Movement in the urban space should be smooth and easy, but ideally the environment should also offer a variety of experiences. This will reduce cognitive distances and perhaps encourage more people to walk. That‘s why we decided to form the bridge and the tunnel into a single landscape ensemble that doesn‘t dominate, but still stands out. It encourages people to experience it directly and not admire it from afar.
To achieve the desired result, we used an unexpected material for the tunnel and the bridge railing: ceramic shingles. We not only wanted to create a form, but also to emphasise the elements of human scale in the urban infrastructure. The 100,000 shingles are coloured in four shades, from silver to honey, depending on how much UV radiation falls on them. This allows the grey bricks to blend in with the concrete elements on the outside, while inside the tunnel there is a warm atmosphere that is enhanced by the curved shape of the shingles and the lighting solution.“
