Swansea’s historical past is being celebrated with the new Copr Bay district development which recognises generations of families who have helped transform and regenerate the City from the Industrial Revolution to present times.
The Copr Bay district is named using the Welsh word for copper, Copr. A 3,500 seated indoor arena within the district shares its redevelopment alongside residential and commercial buildings, open green spaces, parking and a stunning landmark bridge providing a link between the city and the sea. The design comes from Swansea’s artist Marc Rees who said “”The council wanted the design to reflect an authentic local voice and I hope I bring that along with a compelling artistic edge. Working on the design with Acme has been exciting. I settled on an origami-style pattern because I wanted the bridge to have a playfulness reflecting its proximity to the arena and park. I chose swans because they represent forward movement and change; they also, of course, have a strong Swansea association.”
Marc Rees collaborated with ACME and Buckingham Group.
Friedrich Ludewig, director at Acme, said: “We’re delighted that the design of the bridge for pedestrians and cyclists has been unveiled. The structure will seamlessly connect the city centre with the arena and Marina, and will become a stepping stone to connect to the beach.” He added that the selected colour and lighting acknowledges the historical link Swansea has to the local copper industry and is complementary to the digital facade of Swansea arena.
Buckingham Group Contracting project director Tim Wood said: “We have been working closely with Marc Rees and Acme to develop the detailed construction and structural designs for the bridge. Our aim is to ensure that the finished bridge delivers the architectural, aesthetic qualities that are required and that it creates a stunning visual gateway to Swansea.”
Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said: “This is a key moment in the transformation of this site and the £1bn regeneration of Swansea city centre. The private and public sectors are backing Swansea with ideas, money and action – and people across our communities can be confident in the city’s future. Swansea city centre is fast becoming a great place to live, work, study and play. Although this was an important moment, we took the pandemic into consideration and chose to do it virtually rather than with a traditional gathering.”
Further reading:
https://www.bridgeweb.com/Design-unveiled-for-Swansea-footbridge/7194#
www.marcrees.com
