Brera-Citterio Pedestrian Bridge / In-progress

Design and Façade ConsultantFront Inc.

See Front’s latest animation of the bridge below!

https://vimeo.com/240158149

As part of ongoing initiatives to enhance the visitor experience at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan, one of the country’s most important art museums, Front has completed the conceptual design for a new structural glass pedestrian bridge that connects the existing exhibition spaces of the Pinacoteca with Palazzo Citterio, which will host the museum’s extensive collections of Italian Modern art in an adjacent historic building. Palazzo Citterio will house the museum’s modern art collection, while the existing Brera Pinoteca galleries will continue to house a collection of masterpieces dating from the Middle Ages to the late 1800s. Front was delighted to provide design consultancy services to assist the Pinacoteca realise their ambition to express the continuity between the historical and Modern collections. The pedestrian bridge therefore acts as a transition between historical eras and styles, offering visitors a processional and contemplative experience, before entering the new wing. The bridge is delicately elevated above Milan’s oldest botanical garden, with pillars touching down in the garden at only one location and avoiding damage to any trees on the site. The structural frame-less glass panels and stainless steel trim visually dematerialise the structure amongst the tree canopy and defer to the surrounding historic buildings and landscape. This approach is in keeping with the design practice of using interventions that are respectful of historical context. Front has extensive experience in this area, often employing advanced structural glass design, advanced materials research, and innovative analysis to achieve a minimalist design vision.