We’re all comfortable with adaptive reuse, where the purpose of the original structure has gone away and a new purpose is found. Adaptive addition, where the original purpose remains and a new one is added, is more difficult, particularly if the original is any good.
Enter the new pedestrian bridge hung from the side of the masonry railroad bridge over the River Tarn in Albi, France. Albi is a world heritage site for its 10th to 13th century architecture, and the rail bridge is from the 19th century, but you have to give the bridge designers credit for matching their surroundings. Since the rail bridge carries trains, how do you add a pedestrian path? Not everyone will agree with the solution used by Ney & Partners, but it makes a clear distinction between new and old and it allows clear views of the old bridge.
I’m not sure how the new function could have been added without causing some change in appearance, and I generally agree with the school of thought that distinguishing new from old is the best way to go.
One last note: I’m a little concerned about the plant growth on the deck of the rail bridge, but I’ll assume the rail maintenance crews are aware of that issue.
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