Opened in 2019 Boyesen Bridge was designed by public artist Sebastien Boyesen, in partnership with civil engineers Stantec. The bridge design includes ornate laser cut steel panels interspersed with coloured resin which reflect the sunlight during the day and are illuminated at night by feature lights set within the handrail. The patterns are inspired by flowering plants found at the site such as the Horseshoe Vetch and Bath Asparagus. The huge structure, which measures 35m in length and weighs a whopping 28 tonnes, was delivered to the site by police escort and craned into place.
The bridge artist, Sebastien Boyesen, has designed many public artworks across the country including Guardian an impressive 20 metres tall Corten steel miner located on a former colliery site gazing towards the town of Six Bells and Abertillery in South Wales.
In 2019 Swindon residents were asked to suggest names for the footbridge. Suggestions included Rosewood Bridge, Phoenix Bridge, Kaleidoscope Bridge and (of course!) Footy McFootbridge. The winning name was suggested by Dave Woods who suggested Boyesen Bridge.
The hoardings surrounding the square where the footbridge lands adjacent to the District Centre were also designed by an artist. Kerry Lemon was inspired by plants collected at the site and used different techniques including spray painting, gelli-prints, rubbings and cyanotypes.
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Speaking about the design of the footbridge Sebastien Boyesen said: “I wanted to come up with a concept informed by the local surroundings, the wildlife and flora, holding a memory of what could have been found in the Wichelstowe of the past – a secret history. The casual observer would be unaware of the beautiful flowering plants that would once have proliferated on the site, such as the Horseshoe Vetch and Bath Asparagus. By creating graphic designs based on these, and other plants, it is hoped that the bridge will serve as a daily reminder of nature’s abundance and the site-specific references. It is my intention that the Wichelstowe footbridge contributes to the sense of place and ownership for the residents of the new development, creating something that is both beautiful and functional.”
