This footbridge was designed to connect portions of an estate located on opposite sides of the Aspetuck River in Westport, Connecticut. It was sited along an axis created by two “found objects” … a treehouse located near the primary residence on the east side of the river, and a set of stone steps located adjacent to a renovated barn used for entertaining on the west side.
The structure is over two hundred feet long, yet only three feet wide. In order to minimize disturbance to the river’s ecosystem during the construction process, it was designed in such a way that it could be built almost entirely by hand. All components were carefully chosen from readily available sources, which helped to control costs and shorten the construction period. The detailing of the transverse beams which support the walking surface was inspired by one of John Roebling’s earliest works, the Delaware River Aqueduct at Minisink Ford, NY. Roebling’s crowning achievement was the design of the Brooklyn Bridge.
