Western Australia
The 105m long Dwaarlindjirraap suspension bridge crosses the Murray River close to the Baden Powell campground and forms the central element of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails experience (Dwellingup & TrailsWA Projects), a 30km+ dedicated single track mountain bike trail and upgrade of 8km of the existing Munda Biddi Trail.
The bridge is located in a natural setting within a National Park, the Murray River has significant cultural heritage value. The trails project anchors the ongoing development of Dwellingup as a major tourism centre for the region.
The bridge enables a new experience of the Murray River, an opportunity to engage with the river and the dynamic environment. Movement and exposure to the elements are carefully considered and balanced with requirements for safety and significant visitor numbers with differing accessibility needs.
Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge, a 105-metre-long structure crossing the Murray River within the Lane Poole Reserve, forms the central element of the Dwellingup Adventure Trails experience, a dedicated single-track mountain bike trail and upgrade of the existing Munda Biddi Trail.
The structure is a masterful example of merging architecture, engineering and landscape design for a refined public utility that responds sensitively to the natural and cultural characteristics of the site. The design negotiates immoderate material usage, balanced against design life and fire and flood resistance. Planning stages integrated crucial consideration of the delicate locale, which bears significant cultural heritage value, involving management of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage, environment, soil erosion, flood and bushfire.
Intended as an attuned landmark and focal point within the tall forest, the use of weathered steel facilitates large spans with the lightest structure, successfully preserving riverbanks and avoiding interruption of the river itself. Detailing brings focus to individual elements – core structure, decking, galvanised stay cables and a mesh protection balustrade through which visibility is maintained.
The outcome is a gracefully formed assembly arcing gently over the water and rocks below, yet sufficiently muscular to feel reassuring and commanding in its natural setting. Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge symbolises the importance of strong engagement between architect, engineer and client, resulting in design excellence for the enhancement of public infrastructure.
The Iwan Iwanoff Award for Small Project Architecture
Dwaarlindjirraap Bridge has developed to be the local landmark in Dwellingup crossing over Murray River for mountain bike trail upgrade project by Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions forming a part of the larger Munda Biddi trail.
Built out of uncoated weathering steel, the bridge tower appears as gate whilst paradoxically blends itself with its natural setting of trees. The bridge is designed with minimal material and interruption to existing flora and fauna and in respect of the river edge and site of cultural significance and also balancing against robustness, fire, and flood resistance.
The repetition of steel stanchions echoes the rhythm of tree trunks of surrounding forest, and the almost invisible stainless-steel rope mesh balustrade allows significant visibility across the bridge.
Looking at, traversing, and looking from, the bridge allows a new visual and spatial experience to engage with Murray River and its dynamic environment by cyclists and pedestrians with differing accessibility needs.
This project exemplifies the outstanding contribution architecture can make to infrastructure as well as in a natural and landscape setting such as that of a National Park, improving the cultural value of the environment.
Commendation – COLORBOND® Award for Steel Architecture
The Dwaarlindjirraap Suspension Bridge is the result of a successful collaboration between the architect, client, structural engineer and builder. The elegant simplicity of form and disciplined response to pragmatic concerns, including; equitable access, flood, fire, biodiversity and cultural heritage of the river; yield an unexpected poetry. The custom but repetitive fabrication of the weathering steel structure, tilts, cranks and fillets at the edges, creating a landmark form that exudes a quiet strength, harmoniously sited amongst the beauty of its environment.
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.