Simon Harker
Associate, Knight ArchitectsSimon has over 12 years’ experience designing bridges and infrastructure, having studied and practiced in both the UK and Denmark. He specialises in capturing the functional and experiential requirements of multifaceted infrastructure projects, driven by the needs of people and place.
He graduated from the Royal Danish Academy School of Architecture in 2012 and set on the path of an Architect in a world of infrastructure by working on the design of innovative structures for power transmission, rail, and highways. Simon has deep professional and life experience in the field of active mobility. He believes in designing infrastructure which provides people with more sustainable, healthy, and high-quality ways of life.
Designing bridges at Knight Architects since 2021, Simon approaches challenging and sensitive projects with a holistic, 'design for people' approach, considering the user experience at all scales. He led architectural design of the recently completed Keel Crossing at the heart of Riverside Sunderland.
My Sessions at Bridges 2026
Thursday 12 March 2026
Designing for Public Life on Bridges
- Bridges that foster public life in towns and cities must typically satisfy a multitude of requirements, from security to placemaking.
- The design of public space on bridges must respond to use cases ranging from that of a solitary individual to a crowd of thousands.
- User modes are often contradictory, and careful consideration is needed to design public realm which can be shared safely by all.
- Keel Crossing in Sunderland exemplifies how a bridge, at the centre of an urban regeneration programme, responds to the needs of its city and its users.
