Zoutkamp

<p>Our built environment is constantly in transition. Due to changes in conditions or demands bridges, barrages and locks can become redundant. So happened in Zoutkamp, a former fishermen's village laying just behind the seawall of the Lauwerszee, the Netherlands. On May 23, 1969, the sea was enclosed and it has been called Lauwersmeer ever since. Although the Hunsingolock and the Reitdieplock lost their main function, they remain important relics within the community. To adapt to the effects of climate change both locks undergo profound transformations for a resilient future.</p><p>The Reitdieplock of 1877 functions as the main entrance of the village facilitating daily traffic, logistics as well as recreational bicycle routes and trails. Therefore the lock needed to be adjusted with a 4 meter wide new bridge parallel to the existing bridge. The design of the pedestrian bridge originates from careful handling with the monumental lock, the intended recreational use and experience of the place. A new layer is added to the existing, in line with historical development of the lock. Constraints of the existing historic structure had some challenges in relation to the preservation of the monument, structural design, integration of the openable deck part and minimal deviations within the construction. The process with the local community, the national preservation department and the contractor show the zero tolerance in design, construction and installing of the bridge on site.</p>