In 2003, the historic town of Clonakilty and the National Sculpture Factory in Ireland held a limited competition for artist/architect teams to submit proposals for a pedestrian bridge on a tricky site crossing the Feagle River.

Analysis of the town along the river banks revealed that the waterfront was accessible almost exclusively from private property and roads and parking lots: a place from which the pedestrian public could enjoy the clean, gentle river was lacking. In this submission, the brief was expanded to provide a place for people to enjoy the environment, instead of simply crossing the water. The principal aim was to provide an unobtrusive platform that directed attention to the bridge’s idyllic surroundings.

An important component of the proposal’s intent to showcase its context and improve the quality of public space was that the deck be continued under the arch of the existing development on the south bank, and along the length of Seymour Street on the north bank, creating a strong visual connection to the central but underused Astna Square. It was hoped that extending the town’s pedestrian circulation would encourage a pedestrian precinct in a future development on the north bank.