{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O113959"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O113959/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB1860/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BB1860/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BB1860","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O113959","accessionNumber":"E.3577-2004","objectType":"Model","titles":[{"title":"Untitled","type":"assigned by artist"},{"title":"Model of a Footbridge","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This model was constructed at the Bartlett School of Architecture, London, at the request of photographer Dan Holdsworth and accompanies a photograph of the footbridge. Holdsworth writes: ‘The motorway footbridge at Malpas on the M4 between London and Bristol stands out for the elegant sweeps of its access walkways that spiral down at either end. As you zoom under it by car the structure animates itself and unfurls around you, seeming to give the illusion that it is catapulting you forward at even greater speed. For the pedestrian the bridge offers continuity along an old Roman bridleway that bisects the M4 at this point.’\r\n\r\nThe footbridge at Malpas (from the Latin, meaning ‘bad way’) is unique. When the M4 motorway was built the motorway contractors wanted to use the gravel that lay under this land, belonging to a local farmer.  The government had a compulsory purchase order for the land but had no right over resources below ground. As the farmer’s wife was uninspired by the original, rather boring footbridge design, the farmer proposed that the company could use the resources below his land if they built a beautiful footbridge for his wife. They accepted and the resulting footbridge is the one seen today, which unites both the farmer’s land and an ancient Roman right of way.","physicalDescription":"Model of a footbridge.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Bartlett School of Architecture","id":"A15001"},"association":{"text":"model makers","id":"AAT248289"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"},{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"MDF base covered in white card","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2006BB1860"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES317460"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"model","id":"AAT247279"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2000","earliest":"2000-01-01","latest":"2000-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.3576-2004","id":"O113340"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by Dan Holdsworth and Entwistle Gallery","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"91","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"41","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This is a model of a footbridge which spans a section of the M4 motorway at Teale. This section of the motorway is built on the site of an ancient Roman road, in an area known as 'Malpass', the word indicating a formerly treacherous, boggy area. The model was reconstructed from the original plans at Holdsworth's request by the Bartlett School of Architecture, London. Seen from above, the bridge's form echoes the shape of the Ionic column capital, originally found in ancient Greek architecture.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Model of a motorway bridge,  made by Bartlett  School of Architecture after original plans, 2000.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Model commissioned by Dan Holdsworth to accompany photograph of bridge (E.3576-2004)","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"bridge","id":"AAT7836"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"This elegant footbridge, with its distinctive spiral ramps, spans the M4 motorway  near Teale. This section of the motorway is built on the site of an ancient Roman road, in an area known as 'Malpass', the word indicating a formerly treacherous, boggy area. Holdsworth's photograph eerily places the modern bridge in a landscape that hints at its ancient past and shows how the historic geography of even the most utilitarian sites affects the constructions of the present. \r\n\r\nThe model that accompanies the photograph was reconstructed from the original plans at Holdsworth's request by the Bartlett School of Architecture, London. Seen from above, the bridge's form echoes the shape of the Ionic column capital, originally found in ancient Greek architecture.","date":{"text":"22/09/2004","earliest":"2004-09-22","latest":"2004-09-22"}}],"partNumbers":["E.3577-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"3577","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-02-19","recordCreationDate":"2005-07-06","availableToBook":true}}