Well, this is definitely not the longest or most important bridge in the world, but it surely is one of the most interesting ones you’ll ever see. PaperBridge is the latest incredible installation of the environmental artist Steve Messam. To build it he used the astonishing 22,000 sheets of paper and 4 tons of rocks. And here is the real stunner – there are no screws, bolts or a single drop of glue holding it together.
At first sight the bright red bridge made of paper only shows a stark contrast between it and the landscape, but Messam explains that there is in fact a key relationship between his masterpiece and the surroundings: “Paper is a simple material made from wood pulp and water. The intensity of colour used in the bridge contrasts with the verdant landscape making a bold statement of form and design. Alongside this the materials used have a resonance with the natural environment and the construction of the bridge also reflects local architectural forms, specifically pack horse bridges found throughout the area. All of the paper used in PaperBridge will be recovered and returned to the Burneside Mill for recycling into new paper once the project ends. This transparent cycle is part of the overall environmental narrative of the piece.”
PaperBridge is a part of the awesome “Lakes Ignite” project that was displayed in the Grisedale Valley north of Patterdale and everyone was welcome to come across it before it got taken down.
