THE TWIN Sails Bridge in Poole has been described as a triumph after winning a prestigious architectural award.

It features in a list of 11 innovative and outstanding new architecture to be given a RIBA South West Award 2014 from the Royal Institute of British Architects at a ceremony in Bristol held yesterday (May 8).

Designed by Wilkinson Eyre Architects, Borough of Poole’s £21million Twin Sails Bridge, which opened to the public in October 2011, was praised by John Pardey of John Pardey Architects.

He said: “The raised bridge looks simple, elegant, and does indeed evoke sails passing. But at night, another trick plays out, as the road is flooded in red light to help stop the traffic (along with barriers housed in sentinels each side) from LED strips housed beneath the handrails. Long carbon-fibre masts complete the sails, again with light piercing the sky.”

Poole-based ECA Architecture & Planning was also named in the final shortlist of 15 projects selected from 55 entries across the south west of England, for their Knappings Barn house extension project at Cheltenham.