Merchant Square is one of the most current and prestigious new-build complexes in London. It is made up of residential, commercial and retail property built around the end of the Grand Union Canal.

Our challenge was to design, manufacture and install the hydraulic systems whilst maintaining a truly unique yet functioning set of bridge designs.

To develop a solution to operate the fantastic showpiece bridge, designed to give the appearance of an open Japanese hand fan, and to fulfil the design of Thomas Heatherwick’s rolling bridge.

Fan Bridge

The bridge itself is built from five individual leaves which are each raised hydraulically at various speeds and to different heights to give the bridge its unique fan effect, each section ending its travel simultaneously with the adjacent leaf. The equipment we supplied included five hydraulic cylinders, each capable of lifting in excess of 50 tonnes, and a twin-pump hydraulic power pack to raise all five bridge leaves simultaneously. The power pack is linked to each cylinder by our custom-built proportionally-controlled manifold system to give us the required variable speed for each leaf as it is raised and lowered.

Rolling Bridge

The second bridge, known as the hedgehog, combines hydraulic rams and electronic controls. The sculpture unfolds with an unrivalled elegance.

The result is a pair of impressive bridges that is a centrepiece of Merchant Square and impresses local people as well as attracting tourists from around the world. People are truly mesmerised by their majestic splendour.