Water Street Bridge

Located at the south-east corner of the Canary Wharf estate in London (and only yards from Knight Architects' South Dock Bridge), the Water Street Bridge provides the main highway and pedestrian connection between Montgomery Square and the new Wood Wharf district. The crossing is the largest of six movable bridges spanning Bellmouth Passage and uses a simple bascule mechanism to provide the necessary navigation clearance for vessels entering Water Square.

The architectural brief sought an understated design to provide bridge users with a flowing, linear experience, rather than seeking to stand out amidst the powerful architectural forms of the surrounding buildings.

The operating mechanism and structure remain hidden below deck level, creating an open, shared space for users. It forms a seamless part of the high-quality public realm. In its lowered position, the 28m-long lifting span is invisible to most users crossing the deck.

The 180-tonne steel superstructure is expressed as a set of finely composed triangular faces; a language which flows into the concrete structure of the east abutment and along the dock edge beyond. The bridge parapets are designed as an unbroken linear element, continuous across the bridge and along the dock edge of Water Square beyond.