Architectural Photography of MJP Architects Steam Bridge, University of Birmingham.

Architectural photography of MJP Architects Steam Bridge, University of Birmingham.

This bridge is an important part of a scheme by the University of Birmingham, aiming to refurbish and extend their combined heating and power network.

Designed by MJP Architects, the bridge is designed to have a very long service life and require very little maintenance or cleaning due in part to the use of 316 grade stainless steel cladding.

Sorba projects BV prefabricated the 60 metre long structure in two parts. These were transported to the site and installed over night.

The bridge contains a walkway which allows safe access and internal inspection of the services that the bridge contains, and carries over the railway lines and canal. The bridge is a crucial part of the University’s sustainable energy strategy, which reduces their carbon footprint by 1,500 tonnes a year.

Architectural photography carried out over one and a half days.(All images copyright Simon Kennedy.)

 

View of the steam bridge from the University of Birmingham:

Steam-bridge-birmingham-001

 

Architectural photograph of the bridge:

architectural-photograph-of-bridge

 

A jogger runs below the bridge:

Steam-bridge-birmingham-003-jogger

 

Architectural photograph of the bridge from the road that runs parallel to it:

architectural-photograph-university-birmingham-steam-bridge

 

The bridge sees a steady supply of runners and canal boats:

Steam-bridge-birmingham-runners-boats

 

Alternative architectural photograph:

alternative-architectural-photograph

 

The canal path runs parallel to the train tracks, both pass beneath the bridge.

Steam-bridge-birmingham-canal-train

 

University of Birmingham students passing by the bridge.

university-of-birmingham-students-steam-bridge

 

Architectural photograph looking down at the bridge and canal path below:

architectural-photograph-canal-bridge

 

The steam bridge has an interesting relationship to the plants on the bank:

architecture-Steam-bridge-birmingham-plants

 

Architectural photograph showing the design of the cladding and the relationship of the fencing to the curved form:

architectural-photograph-cladding-fence-curved

 

Architecture of the end of the bridge, photographed:

architecture-end-bridge-photograph

 

More architectural photography:

architectural-photography-Steam-bridge-birmingham-

 

 

Steam-bridge-birmingham-016

 

 

Steam-bridge-birmingham-018

 

The stainless steel cladding of the bridge reflects light beautifully:

stainless-steel-reflect-cladding-architecture

 

Architectural photography:

architectural-photography

 

Architectural photography in different weather conditions showing how the bridges cladding reacts to the light:

architectural-photography-bridge-react-light

 

The other end of the bridge:

Steam-bridge-birmingham-022

 

 

Steam-bridge-birmingham-024

 

 

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Architectural photography created with a Toyo VX125b 5×4” large format camera, with Schneider 72mm XL f5.6 Super-Angulon lens, Rodenstock 135mm f5.6 Apo-Sironar-S lens, Rodenstock 210mm f5.6 Apo-Sironar-S lens

This is the blog of Simon Kennedy, London Architectural Photographer. If you would like to see more of my work, please visit www.simonkennedy.net