The Jim Stynes Bridge, designed by COX, is a lightweight structure that arcs 30 metres across the Yarra River creating the illusion that it is hovering unsupported.
The bridge provides a vital pedestrian, bicycle, and commuter link between Melbourne’s CBD and two of the city’s most important precincts, Docklands and Southbank.
The bridge, named after prominent cultural and sporting figure Jim Stynes, was designed by COX in association with Aurecon and Oculus for the City of Melbourne.
It is a fluid combination of engineering, architecture, and landscape design, incorporating high-performance and high-strength materials to provide a sustainable and practical combination of architectural and functional design.
Sitting at the junction of several key Melbourne trails and passing under the Charles Grimes Bridge, Jim Stynes Bridge provides a smooth transition for cyclists and pedestrians by allowing the structure to act in tension as a horizontal suspension bridge.
Over its 125m length, the bridge only touches the river twice – minimising the impact upstream during extreme flood events.
The Yarra River is a key defining feature of Melbourne culturally, historically, and geographically.
While the City’s relationship has traditionally been limited to perpendicular crossing points, more recently attention has focused on activating the spaces adjacent and along the Yarra riverbank.
The bridge design celebrates invention and connection, acknowledging that bridges are public event spaces.
The design supports the activation of the riverside by creating new and meaningful public realm that adds to Melbourne’s intangible appeal.
Project Details
Project Budget – $14,000,000
Completion date – 2014
Project Details
Architecture
COX
COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.
Key to their ethos is supporting the public life of our cities. Cox does this by ensuring each project makes positive contributions to its public realm – giving more than it takes.
Photography
Tommy Miller
Tommy is a photographer and 3D Artist at Cox Architecture.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 COX. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Tommy Miller. All Rights Reserved.
Get the Builtworks Letter
In every edition of the Builtworks Letter, you’ll get the behind-the-scenes backstory as to how buildings are designed, built, and brought to life.
You’ll hear compelling stories, learn surprising ideas, meet engaging characters, and discover unique voices.