Long span timber structures within the cityscape is an emerging typology which challenges the future environmental and socio-economic demands of the city. The proposed Blackfriars Rail Bridge has multiple objectives, including considering both contextual configuration and the systemic development of a new timber construction system.

The design for the Blackfriars Rail Bridge and its integrated North Terminal presented an opportunity for long spans and unique load conditions. Challenging the conventional station typology, the rail bridge functions as a major railway interchange and as a public realm, connecting the two riverbanks with a public ‘spine'. The North Terminal presents a seamless relationship between itself and waterfront. The project considers the bridge at the scale of the individual components and the larger configuration within the urban realm.

Research explored the historic application of different timber species within naval architecture and buildings. This provided an informative basis for the development of a new system. A digital tool was developed for automating the allocation of timber species within the long span block laminated system. It considered key regulatory standards involved the application of different species in accordance with their structural and material characteristics to meet the performance requirements of different parts of the structural system.