National Highways has unveiled the winning design in its competition to create the ‘gantry of the future’ for its network.
The competition was organised in conjunction with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and saw 32 entries from architectural firms from across the UK and Europe.
The winning entry was created by Useful Studio, which will now work with National Highways to develop its design concept, with a view to it becoming the standard design for new roads and major upgrades from around two years’ time.
National Highways said that with a current tally of 3,500 gantries, ‘we won’t be immediately replacing structures’.
The national roads operator said the winning design (pictured immediately below) features a simple, pared-back design approach and was chosen by the judging panel ‘for its elegance and simplicity, and how cohesive the design concept was across a range of different structures’.
It added that the design is projected to have a reduced carbon footprint and that where existing designs tend to be heavily engineered, with an emphasis on function over form, it has been seeking a more ‘streamlined, elegant and consistent visual appearance’.
The winning entry uses less steel than existing designs and pre-weathered steel, which ages better than painted steel, meaning potentially lower maintenance requirements.
It can be adapted for different types of structures including those spanning all carriageways.
Executive director for operations Duncan Smith said: ‘In selecting Useful Studio as the winner, the judging panel admired the simplicity and elegance of the pared-back design approach, and the opportunities it presented in terms of a resource efficient, standardised, coherent suite of gantry structures that would be potentially sympathetic to a broad range of settings and contexts.’
Jonathan McDowell, RIBA architect adviser said: ‘It is very encouraging that National Highways is actively engaging the design community in helping to improve the design of these ubiquitous but cumbersome parts of the motorway experience.
‘We enjoyed seeing a wide range of interesting ideas, including those which challenged National Highways' current practices.’
National Highways added that although security issues did not form part of the original specification, the new design will be more resilient to trespassers due to entry being concealed within the pillars.
It said other entries also demonstrated a range of fresh thinking and innovation in approach to the design, including wood composite and LED panel-based designs, ‘as well as identifying the challenge of removing gantries completely in favour of in-vehicle displays’.
A design by John McAslan+Partners (above) won second place in the competition and three other concepts were highly commended by the judging panel.
Commended schemes
Kevin Kelly Architects and Stand Engineers. This submission was commended by the Judging Panel for its incorporation and best proposed use of timber componentry.
Hooman Talebi with Farshad Nasiri, Ehsan Masoud, Minoo Mashhadi, Raziyeh Rasapour, and Homa Farjadi. This submission was commended by the Judging Panel for its proposed use of digital screen technology to turn the gantry into a singular information-based object.
Knight Architects This submission was commended by the Judging Panel for proposing the best challenge to the continued and future need for overhead gantry structures.
The competition is part of National Highways' good design initiative and has been funded under its designated fund under the innovation and modernisation theme.
