The Frugal Crossing Exploring frugality in the transformation of a vital pedestrian and cycle bridge in Frihamnen, Gothenburg

Abstract

Frihamnen, one of the key areas in Gothenburg’s River City development project also known as “Älvstaden Utveckling” is the focus area of this thesis. The City’s development project involves the transformation of an industrial harbour into a sustainable urban district where the pedestrian and cycling connectivity plays a vital role in accessing the city across the infrastructure barriers. Ludvig Tingströms bro is the bridge that serves as the only pedestrian and cycling connection between the areas Kvillestan and Frihamnen which remains in a deteriorating condition, described by the local media as “old and wobbly,” causing users to feel unsafe (Hankins, 2024). The City of Gothenburg has decided against renovation while awaiting potential future replacement which leaves the bridge in a substandard condition until further notice. This situation creates a significant gap between Gothenburg’s sustainability ambitions and the reality of inadequate infrastructure serving an increasingly important urban connection. The thesis proposes a conceptual redesign of the bridge grounded in frugality and material reuse. Rather than replacing the structure entirely with an entirely new construction, the project explores how elements from the existing bridge can be retained and reconfigured by using a clear framework by adopting frugal design principles from various literature, site observations, material inventorying and obtaining materials sourced from the other decommissioned projects in Gothenburg. Frugality is approached as a deliberate architectural strategy that focuses on structural clarity, resource efficiency and careful intervention over excess. The design aims to transform second-hand materials into defining spatial and aesthetic qualities by embracing their textures and structural logic as part of a contemporary reuse-based ideology. The deliverables include contextual analysis, material investigations, and a conceptual bridge proposal that improves safety, accessibility, and overall user experience. The thesis imagines the bridge not only as a typical infrastructural element but as a potential vibrant public space, by utilising resource-conscious designs that strengthen the urban connection between Frihamnen and Kvillestan, while aligning with Gothenburg’s larger sustainability ambitions