Location: Kanyakumari, India.

Architect: Monk Mackenzie + Novare.

The Thiruvalluvar and Vivekananda bridges are pedestrian bridges located in the southernmost tip of India, designed to connect the mainland to the Thiruvalluvar Statue and Vivekananda Temple. The area was heavily damaged in the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the Indian lotus was used as a symbol of renewal in the design of the bridge. The bridge is highly modular and efficient, with a sculpted and modular concrete deck that appears to visually float above the water, touching down only lightly at twenty-meter spans. The language of concrete leaves or petals provides shading along the route and is modulated with the deck to create a rhythmic and sculptural quality to the bridge. The material of the bridge is a weathered concrete, with a stratified or sedimentary layered effect to create a sense of timelessness. At dusk, the petals are lit from below, creating a punctuated rhythm and general lighting to the deck surface. The form of the bridges does not compete with either the Thiruvalluvar statue or Vivekananda temple, and the material resonates with the surroundings. The bridges are designed to allow pilgrims to visit both islands currently served by boats.