IN SHORT
Since the beginning of the late eighties, Buenos Aires began to take interest in urban planning development strategies and particularly sought to revitalise the city's run-down port area, the Puerto Madero.
However, the pedestrian routes around Dock 3 were inadequately connected to the urban fabric and to the nearby axis created by the El Cabildo (Old Town Hall), Plaza de Mayo and Casa Rosada. The challenge presented by the client, Grupo Gonzàlez S.A., called for a footbridge design for Dock 3 that will improve pedestrian circulation and connect the plazas on either side of the embankment, while at the same time leaving an unobstructed dock that is still used for water traffic.
The solution to this challenge is the Puente de la Mujer: a structure that consists of a 102-meter (335 feet) long rotating suspension bridge, set between a pair of fixed approach spans. The central section is suspended by cables from an 39-meter (128 feet) high inclined pylon. The timber-cladded deck is only slightly inclined and provides a barrier-free connection for pedestrians and cyclists. This section of the bridge can rotate 90 degrees to allow free passage of water traffic. The weight of the mechanical tower balances the weight of the pylon, allowing the rotational system to be simplified. Built of reinforced concrete and steel and paved with local timber, the Puente de la Mujer is illuminated at night, transforming it into a new symbol for Buenos Aires. In conjunction with other recently built structures in the area, the Puente de la Mujer contributes to a new sense of place for Puerto Madero.