Pierluigi D'Acunto (MArch with Distinction), Norman Hack (MArch with Distinction), Camila Rock de Luigi (MArch with Distinction)
Within the domain of the bridge typology, this thesis explores the interaction between structural necessities and freedom of architectural expression. As a design proposal for the Europan 11 Competition “Connecting Cities” a system of inhabitable footbridges in the Norwegian cities of Skien and Porsgrunn has been designed. The goal of the thesis is to investigate what emerges at the urban scale from the synthesis of infrastructure and programme and at the architectural scale from the integration of inhabitable spaces into the structure. Aiming at developing an adaptable system, a methodology based on evolutionary computation has been introduced and used as a generative tool to breed populations of structurally and programmatically valid and yet unexpected and unforeseeable design solutions.