The eastern span of the historic San Francisco to Oakland Bay bridge is slated for demolition, following its recent replacement by a newer bridge located nearby. However, one local resident hopes to ensure that the old bridge lives on – in some form at least – and plans to reuse some of the resulting scrap metal as building material for a sustainable home in a project suitably dubbed the Bay Bridge House.
Not to be confused with the western span of the bridge that hosts the bay lights installation, the eastern span is no longer in use and its demolition is expected to take a couple of years.
The Bay Bridge House project calls for multiple parts of the scrapped bridge to be used, including steel girders, ladders, wire, and even sections of road. These materials will go toward the creation of a house with sustainable features such as a green roof, solar panels, and rainwater recycling. Other materials needed would be sourced from local companies, and the project's creator David Grieshaber also states that he will apply for LEED certification.
Though there are some renders available which highlight what the house might eventually look like, it's still early days yet, and ideas abound as to what form the project may finally take. Some thoughts so far include a single-family house as the basis, with or without an additional couple of condos or Airbnb accommodation, to help it be self-sufficient financially.
Unfortunately, as The Guardian reports, it's not quite so easy as turning up with a wheelbarrow and grabbing some scrap metal, as Grieshaber will first need to gain permission to use the materials. Also, there are some concerns regarding possible toxins present in the metal, such as a lead paint coating. We'll keep an eye on the project and let you know if it's successful.
Source: Bay Bridge House