{"id":271790,"date":"2025-07-18T10:25:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T10:25:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/271790\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T10:25:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T10:25:15","slug":"oma-wins-competition-to-design-anti-iconic-bridge-in-lyon-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/271790\/","title":{"rendered":"OMA wins competition to design anti-iconic bridge in lyon, france"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bridging Terrain and Transit in lyon<\/p>\n

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OMA<\/strong><\/a> wins an international competition to design a new bridge<\/strong><\/a> in Lyon, France<\/strong><\/a>. The project, led by Reinier de Graaf with associate Gilles Guyot and project architect Anton Anikeev, will form a key part of the TEOL (Tram Express de l\u2019Ouest Lyonnais) initiative by SYTRAL Mobilit\u00e9s, connecting the Confluence district on the eastern bank of the Sa\u00f4ne with the steep, green slopes of La Balme to the west.<\/p>\n

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The proposal combines a tramway with a pedestrian and cyclist path in a single integrated structure. The bridge addresses both practical infrastructure needs and urban accessibility while paying close attention to its topographical and ecological context. The steep western terrain, which has historically limited development, is now the focus of densification and improved connectivity.<\/p>\n

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The OMA design avoids grand gestures and instead blends into the natural environment, offering what de Graaf describes as \u2018an elegant connection between the urban waterfront and the river\u2019s natural edge.\u2019 Rather than asserting itself as an icon, the bridge calibrates its expression in response to the surrounding landscape, subtly different on each side of the river.<\/p>\n

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the bridge combines tram infrastructure with a pedestrian and cyclist path | visualizations \u00a9 OMA & hism<\/a><\/p>\n

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oma Shapes the Crossing Experience<\/p>\n

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On the Confluence side, OMA designs the Lyon bridge to float above the water gardens, supported by a light and narrow deck that frames views of the river. The passage here acts as both a thoroughfare and a public promenade, with the space underneath reimagined as an open civic area around the historic harbormaster\u2019s building.<\/p>\n

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Across the river, the project calls for the restoration of a forgotten path along the La Balme hillside. This former route, which once offered a natural vantage point over the Sa\u00f4ne, will be reintroduced as part of the bridge\u2019s integration into the landscape. The tram line, which must pass through this hilly terrain, is designed as a discreet incision into the hillside, minimizing impact on the surrounding environment.<\/p>\n

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The team<\/strong><\/a> at OMA is collaborating with WSP<\/a>, Devaux & Devaux architectes, and Marco Rossi Paysagiste to develop the scheme. The office has prior experience in the region through its work on the Vall\u00e9e de la Chimie masterplan<\/strong><\/a> and recently completed the Simone Veil Bridge in Bordeaux, awarded the \u00c9querre d\u2019Argent in 2024.<\/p>\n

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OMA avoids landmark posturing in favor of contextual precision<\/p>\n

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project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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name:\u00a0<\/strong>Lyon Bridge<\/p>\n

architecture:\u00a0<\/strong>OMA<\/a> | @oma.eu<\/a><\/p>\n

location:<\/strong> Lyon, France
status:<\/strong> ongoing
visualizations:<\/strong> \u00a9 OMA & hism<\/a> (Diego Iacono, Stefania Trozzi)<\/p>\n

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partner:<\/strong> Reinier de Graaf
associate:<\/strong> Gilles Guyot
project architects:<\/strong> Anton Anikeev, Yasemin Parlar, Francois Riollot, Suet Ying Yuen
engineering:<\/strong> WSP<\/a>
heritage specialist:<\/strong> DDA
landscape architects:<\/strong> MRP
lighting design:<\/strong> Les Eclaireurs<\/p>\n