Nurim Circuit Elevated Boardwalk by Colin Strydom

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DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?

CS : Creating an experience for people to experience the natural environment and the amazing views

DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?

CS : Design and create a boardwalk without effecting or damaging the natural environment. For the structure to be seamless and integrate with the natural environment and trees.

DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?

CS : We are currently still busy with an ongoing master plan for the whole park including an amphitheater, nature play area and new cafe and amenities block.

DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?

CS : From the first day on site until we had a worked out concept took roughly 6 months.

DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?

CS : We were engaged by the local city council who had the vision for the boardwalk.

DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?

CS : Every architecture project is designed and constructed specifically for the site. If we had to do a boardwalk again, it will be different and site specific

DI: What made you design this particular type of work?

CS : Amazing to create public spaces and structures that make families be active and explore nature

DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?

CS : We always work collaboratively with our clients and other consultants.

DI: Who is the target customer for his design?

CS : The general public, tourists, local community.

DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?

CS : The design is based on a modular system that was built off site that minimized disturbing the natural environment and minimize safety risks during construction and afterwards.

DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?

CS : Name was decided by the client. It is a native word for the mountain it is constructed on.

DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?

CS : Hand and sketching for design. Autodesk Revit for documentation. Lumion for 3d fly throughts

DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?

CS : The modular system that is not visible (the structure doesnt look modular)

DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?

CS : Plenty of people with separate specialties including landscape architect, structural engineer, civil engineer, place makers, nature specialists.

DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?

CS : Without technology this would not have been possible. The boardwalk walkway is not level and each column was a different height. Making this all work had to be done in realistic construction design software.

DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?

CS : The boardwalk is made of sections and each section had to be a certain size and weight to go up the mountain and get put in place. This all had to be researched.

DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?

CS : Making the sizes of the modules work. Making the levels and heights work. Working with the local council members and community

DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?

CS : It is a once in a lifetime project and very different and unique.

DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?

CS : As designers we should always learn and improve and grow.