A total of 137 submissions were received in July by the competition organisers, Malcolm Reading Consultants and while UK practices predominated, almost 40 per cent of submissions were international. The decision of the selection panel – which included representatives of the jury, English Heritage and Malcolm Reading Consultants – was unanimous.
The shortlisted architects are:
• Dietmar Feichtinger Architectes with Terrell (France)
• Marks Barfield Architects with Flint and Neill (UK)
• Ney & Partners Civil Engineers with William Matthews Associates, Ettwein Bridges and Waagner Biro (Belgium)
• Niall McLaughlin Architects with Price and Myers, and Max Fordham (UK)
• RFR and Jean-François Blassel Architecte, with Engineers HRW, and WSP (France)
• WilkinsonEyre with Atelier One (UK)
Graham Morrison, chair of the jury and founding partner, Allies and Morrison said: “The list comprises some fascinating collaborations of architects and engineers, a mix of great talent and experience. Refreshingly, bridge designers show a passion and enthusiasm that assembles straightforward and confident thinking with inspirations that are unique and sometimes unexpected.”
An open day for the finalists will be held in September and the teams will have until 20 November to produce their concept designs. The new circa £4m bridge will be 28 metres higher than the current crossing and will span 72 metres, offering exhilarating views across Tintagel, the surrounding coastline, and the Atlantic seascape.
The brief asks finalists to design a beautiful, structurally-elegant bridge which will be in harmony with the exceptional setting; Tintagel Castle being a Scheduled Ancient Monument lying within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
English Heritage plans to reveal the concept designs to the public in an exhibition to be held in December.
The jury interviews take place in January 2016, with the winner announcement expected in late January/early February. Please see the competition’s dedicated website for further updates: https://competitions.malcolmreading.co.uk/tintagel
