Minimalist Sleek Concrete Bridge In Prague Is A Sculpture Connecting The City To A Small Island

A minimalist and sculptural bridge was recently constructed across the River Vltava in Prague. Designed by architects Petr Tej and Marek Blank in collaboration with engineer Jan Mourek, the bridge spans 300 meters and is meant to resemble marble. The expansive and sleek concrete bridge connects the banks of Prague’s Holešovice and Karlín districts, giving it the nickname HolKa. The structure also includes a ramp to Štvanice – a tiny island that houses a park and sports areas. The bridge is dedicated to the use of pedestrians and cyclists.

Designer: Atelier Bridge Structures and Blank Architekti

Tej and Mourek work together under Atelier Bridge Structures, while Blank is from Blank Architekti. Tej elaborated that both Holešovice and Karlín are two entirely different parts of the city, and the park on Štvanice ensures that urban wilderness and nature are easily accessible to both districts, hence the ramp was incorporated on the bridge. The bridge features a mesmerizing curved design that is marked by a continuous slender beam of white concrete with a subtle H-shaped profile.

The bridge brings to mind the image of a solid white marble sculpture! It is supported by embankment abutments and piers, with a hydraulic system that ensures the bridge can be raised if any flooding occurs. The design of the bridge is reminiscent of the other low-lying bridges you may come across in Prague, which are designed with the intention of minimizing the disruption of the views of the city.

“The silhouette of the bridge reacts to the Prague skyline in particular by the fact that its structure is not high, with no pylons and tie rods that would disturb views of the city,” said Tej. “All Prague bridges are structures with a lower structure, and the choice of full parapet beams responds to parapets on most Prague bridges. The character of the surface should evoke white marble – the bridge should act as a large sculpture in the city, a white, minimalist line,” he concluded.

The sides of the bridge are marked with fluted metal handrails, that finish at the end with bronze animal sculptures – making a reference to the history of the place. A sculpture called The River by Jan Hendrych is also placed at the foot of the ramp on Štvanice.

“The animal motifs are actually a kind of monument to the animals that suffered on different sides of the bridge. There was a cavalry regiment on the Karlín side, hence the horses, hare hunts were held on Štvanice island, hence the hares and the market area in Holešovice was originally used as a slaughterhouse, hence the bulls,” said Tej.

The post Minimalist Sleek Concrete Bridge In Prague Is A Sculpture Connecting The City To A Small Island first appeared on Yanko Design.

20 Spectacular Bridges Of The World

Bridges are functional and allow us to cross lakes, rivers, and roads, but they can also be creative with extraordinary designs! The different types of bridges include arch bridges, beam bridges, cable-style bridges, cantilever bridges, suspension Bridges, truss bridges, and tied arch bridges. Check out these iconic bridges that are a sight to behold.

1. The Twist – Jevnaker, Norway

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

Designed as an art bridge in the forest, the Twist is a gallery, a bridge, and a sculpture. Spanning over a length of 1000 meters, the building twists it into a sculptural form. As Norway continues experimenting with modern architecture, this bridge functions as an art gallery in Norway’s greatest sculptural park.

2. Helix Bridge – Singapore

Designer: Cox Architecture

Inspired by the geometric arrangement of a DNA strand, the Helix Bridge at Singapore’s Marina Bay is a walkway that is enclosed by opposing double-helix stainless steel structures. It spans across the Singapore River, allowing pedestrians to walk its curved deck from one side of the city’s central business district to the other side of the river. The bridge has four viewing platforms that provide views of the Singapore skyline and strategically placed canopies fabricated out of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh along parts of the inner spiral to provide shade for pedestrians.

3. Nanpu Bridge – Shanghai, China

Designers: Shanghai Municipal Engineering Design Institute, Tongji Architectural Design and Research Institute

The Nanpu Bridge is the first cable-stayed bridge spanning over 400 meters in Shanghai. Its shape is reminiscent of a dragon lying across the Huangpu River, with its head and tail in a spiral shape linking the old city area of Puxi with the Pudong Developing Zone. The bridge comprises two “H”-shape reinforced concrete towers of 150 m height each and 22 pairs of steel cable arranged in a fan pattern to support the main girders.

4. Capilano Cliffwalk – North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Designer: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

One of the latest features of Capilano’s Suspension Bridge is the Cliff Walk. The suspended pathway is a metal walkway along the edge of a cliff and the canyon below. It is characterized by its unique circular-shaped section that curves out from the canyon wall and is supported by several connected cable stays. In addition, the walkway has a glass-enclosed platform that dead ends in space and allows one to look down into the gorge below.

5. Jiaozhou Bay Bridge China – Qingdao, Shandong Province, China

Designer: Shandong Gasou Group

Spanning a length of 42 km or nearly the length of a marathon, the Jiaozhou Bay bridge in China is the world’s longest cross-sea bridge. It cuts down the travel time by half for those traveling between East China and the island of Huangdao.

6. Royal Gorge Bridge – Colorado, United States

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

Designer: George Cole for Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

The Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado is America’s highest suspension bridge. It offers scenic views of the Royal Gorge, a 1,200-foot canyon on the Arkansas River, it forms a 10-mile-long gorge, and the bridge is suspended 1053 feet above the river.

7. Seri Wawasan Bridge – Putrajaya, Malaysia

Designer: PJSI Consultants

The Seri Wawasan Bridge is one of the main bridges in Putrajaya, the Malaysian federal territory and administrative center. This futuristic cable-stayed bridge with a forward-inclined pylon mimics the look of a sailing ship. It is accented at night with changeable color lighting.

8. Sunniberg Bridge – Klosters-Serneus, Grisons, Switzerland

Designer: Christian Menn

Spanning across the sharp mountains of the northeastern Swiss Alps, the Sunniberg Bridge is a tall cable-stayed bridge with low pylons. It crosses the Landquart River 200 feet over the water. Its structural members are shaped in response to engineering considerations and have both functional and high aesthetic qualities.

9. Henderson Waves Bridge – Singapore

Designers: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, IJP Architects

The Henderson Waves Bridge is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. At 36 meters above the ground, the bridge is 274 meters long and replicates the undulating shape of a wave. The unique shape of the bridge creates hidden recesses and shell-like niches where pedestrians can sit and enjoy the surrounding views.

10. Nescio Zubizuri – Bilbao, Spain

Designer: Santiago Calatrava

The Zubizuri Bridge is a tied arch footbridge across the Nervion River in Bilbao, Spain. The spectacular design of the bridge comprises a curved walkway that is supported by steel suspension cables from an overhead arch. Painted in white, the bridge deck consists of glass bricks and offers a convenient route to the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum.

11. Python Bridge – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Designer: Adriaan Geuze (West 8)

One of Amsterdam’s most famous engineering marvels, the Python Bridge, resembles an enormous, winding red python. It spans the canal between Sporenburg and Borneo Island, and its wavy shape is strategically designed so that taller ships can pass underneath.

12. Sheikh Zayed Bridge – Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Designer: Zaha Hadid

The Sheikh Zayed Bridge symbolizes the flow of energy into Abu Dhabi, and its waveform with a fluid silhouette is reminiscent of sand dunes. This is one of the most complex bridges ever built, and its dynamic lighting scheme creates an illusion that sand dunes are on the move.

13. Puente de la Mujer – Buenos Aires, Argentina

Designer: Santiago Calatrava

Women’s Bridge Puente de la Mujer is located in Port Madelo (Puerto Madero), a 160-meter cable-stayed bridge, showing a pair of men and women jumping at TANGO. This is a moving bridge (though rarely moved), and when a boat needs to pass, the bridge is rotated 90 degrees with the heels of high heels (pierles) as the pivot, opening the center of the bridge to allow the boat to pass smoothly. The design is clever and creative.

14. Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge – Brasilia, Brazil

Designers: Alexandre Chan, Mario Vila Verde

The Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge is a steel and concrete structure that provides both vehicular and pedestrian crossing over Lake Paranoá. It lies between the city center and the eastern shore and aligns with the Monumental axis of Brazil’s capital. It comprises four supporting pillars submerged under water and 61 m tall asymmetrical steel arches criss-cross diagonally over the bridge.

15. Ruyi Bridge – Zhejiang, China

Designer: He Yunchang (Images courtesy of MyBestPlace)

Made up of three bridges, the Ruyi Bridge is a footbridge in Taizhou, Zhejiang, China. The pedestrian bridge featured a glass-bottomed pathway and was specifically built to cross the Shenxianju Valley. Also known as a bending bridge, the unusual curved walkways are a big attraction among locals and tourists.

16. Golden Bridge – Da Nang, Vietnam

Designer: TA Landscape Architecture

The unique design of Golden Bridge is designed as stone hands that support the golden-hued pedestrian bridge. The arched bridge combines natural and artificial and perfectly harmonizes with the surroundings. Its name, ‘Golden Bridge,’ comes from its gilded railing frame. It connects the cable car station with the gardens, providing scenic beauty and tourist attractions. The spectacular pedestrian bridge looks like it is stretched out in the air under the colossal hands.

17. Dragon Bridge – Da Nang, Vietnam

Designer: Ammann & Whitney

Shaped as a dragon that breathes fire, the Dragon Bridge is an engineering marvel that celebrates the country’s rich history and the 38th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The dragon’s fire-breathing and water-spraying performance attracts tourists and locals a lot.

18. Langkawi Sky Bridge – Langkawi, Malaysia

Designer: Peter Wyss

Suspended high in the sky, the Langkawi Sky Bridge offers spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and islands. The curved pedestrian bridge is located on Langkawi Island in Malaysia. It crosses at the top of Machinchang Mountain, spans a valley between two mountain peaks, and is one of the world’s highest bridges with an elevation of 1000 meters.

19. Glacier Skywalk – Jasper National Park, Canada

Designer: Sturgess Architecture

The Glacier Skywalk is high above the Sunwapta Valley, a glass-floored observation that draws visitors into the Jasper National Park. A combination of structural steel and glass, the Skywalk is anchored into the rock on the side of the mountain. Located in the Canadian Rockies, the Jasper National Park comprises a vast wilderness area of Alberta province defined by glaciers, native wildlife, lakes, and peaks like Mt. Edith Cavell.

20. Magdeburg Water Bridge Germany

Designer: Ingenieurbüro Grassl

The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct in Germany that serves as an efficient route between the Elbe-Havel and the Mittelland Canal, crossing the Elbe. The water bridge joins two bodies of water using water instead of concrete, allowing large commercial ships to pass between Rhineland and Berlin. Spread over 918m. It is one of the longest navigable aqueducts in the world.

The post 20 Spectacular Bridges Of The World first appeared on Yanko Design.

Unique bridge explores a complex structure made from individual pieces of timber wood

Located on the Gulou waterfront in the city of Jiangmen in China, this bridge by LUO Studio connects pedestrians to a resort located on the other side of the waterway underneath. The arched shape of the bridge allows boats to pass under it too, and the bridge itself boasts of a stunningly intricate construction that highlights the use of timber, revitalizing traditional rural culture.

The bridge’s unmistakable arched shape simultaneously allows boats to pass underneath while giving the structure itself a high load-bearing capacity. One of many bridges located on the Gulou waterfront, LUO Studio’s bridge sets itself apart with its uniquely eye-catching and rustic design. The studio employed materials like pinewood, concrete, glass, and aluminum to build the entire bridge.

Designer: LUO Studio

the bridge was commissioned by the Gulou Waterfront eco-tourism resort located across the stream, aiming to combine rural development with the cultural background of local villages on the premise of preserving the unique spatial fabrics featuring mounds and ponds. The resort maintains the form of the basic local water system while organically integrating nature education, parent-child recreation, and fishing & husbandry activities. Its design creates a beautiful facade that’s equally eye-catching during the day as well as at night, and the facade houses a shaded corridor underneath, protecting pedestrians from sun and rain.

“Constructing a covered corridor on bridges has been an old tradition that dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period”, says Luo Yujie, principal architect of LUO Studio. “The initial intention was to strengthen the bridge structure, resist rain and moisture, keep the wood dry and prevent it from corrosion.”

At the very base of the bridge lie 3 curved wooden beams that sit parallel to each other, 9 feet apart, providing the bridge with its structural integrity while keeping its arched portion 4m above the water level – enough for small boats carrying supplies or tourists to pass under. Fully considering the manufacturing and transportation costs, each main beam was divided into three sections at appropriate positions, connected and assembled by steel-strengthened bolts on the site, to form the complete wooden beam.

The post Unique bridge explores a complex structure made from individual pieces of timber wood first appeared on Yanko Design.

World’s first 3D-printed stainless steel bridge links Amsterdam’s past and future in its red-light district!

Amsterdam is known for its calm canals and winding alleyways, its rich cultural history, and its affinity for all kinds of pleasure. Historical landmarks still charm tourists and residents alike between the city’s canals, while contemporary and sustainable architecture put the burgeoning Amsterdam-Noord borough back on the map. Linking Amsterdam’s past with its future, designers and engineers at MX3D and Joris Laarman Lab developed the world’s first 3D printed bridge over one of Amsterdam’s oldest canals in De Wallen, the city’s red-light district.

MX3D and Joris Laarman Lab collaborated with global engineering firm Arup along with a host of designers and 3D-print teams to develop the robot-welded bridge. Welding traditional steelwork with computational design, the stainless steel bridge symbolizes a linking of Amsterdam’s past with its future. Stretching just over twelve meters in length, MX3D equipped simple, technical robots with purpose-built tools that were controlled by integrated software that the team of designers developed over the span of two years.

Arup, the project’s lead structural engineer, practiced ​​advanced parametric design modeling to streamline the bridge’s preliminary design process. Describing the developmental stages and inspiration behind building the bridge, MX3D notes, “The unique approach allows us to 3D print strong, complex and graceful structures out of metal. The goal of the MX3D Bridge project is to showcase the potential applications of our multi-axis 3D printing technology.”

Currently open to the public, the bridge was unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. Ushering in a strengthened bond between the possibilities of modern technology and a reverence for the city’s architectural integrity, the new bridge in Amsterdam’s red-light district stands as a link between the past and the future.

Designers: MX3D, Joris Laarman Lab, & Arup

Using advanced parametric design modeling to streamline the bridge’s initial design process, engineers programmed software to control the 3D printer’s construction and direction.

Amsterdam’s 3D printed bridge merges classical architecture with modern technology.

Constructed offsite, the bridge was transported on a boat to its final destination.

Weaving through Amsterdam’s canals, the bridge was ultimately brought to its final destination in the red-light district.

Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands unveiled the project’s debut in ode to Amsterdam’s rich cultural history.

A spiraling stack of books that houses a bridge and a museum!

Spanning 15,000 square-feet, sprawling across the beautiful Randselva river, in northern Europe’s largest sculptural park stands ‘The Twist’. Twirling through the air and combining two riverbanks, The Twist is “a hybrid spanning several traditional categories: It’s a museum, it’s a bridge, it’s an inhabitable sculpture,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founding Partner & Creative Director, BIG. Situated at the Kistefos Sculpture Park in Jevnaker, Norway, the project was first proposed in 2011 by the Bjarke Ingels Group and now in 2019, it is a striking reality.

Designer: Bjarke Ingels Group

Visitors can walk across The Twist to complete their entire tour of the sculptural park, while also admiring it for the independent, one of a kind attraction it is. Bjarke Ingels said in a press release, “As a bridge it [The Twist] reconfigures the sculpture park turning the journey through the park into a continuous loop. As a museum, it connects two distinct spaces—an introverted vertical gallery and an extraverted horizontal gallery with panoramic views across the river. A third space is created through the blatant translation between these two galleries creating the namesake twist.”

With entries at both sides of the bridge, it provides endless possibilities of exploration. The varied types of daylight entering through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows create three distinctive galleries with diverse aesthetics. On the northern side, you have a naturally lit, open-spaced and breathy gallery with panoramic views of the beautiful landscape and the sculptural park. At the southern end, you enter a long, dimly-lit gallery, accessorized with artificial lighting. And in the middle, you have a sculptural space created out of straight aluminum panels, arranged ‘like a stack of books’, the reason behind the structure’s given name.

“The Twist has been an extremely complex building to construct, yet the result is simple and striking,” says David Zahle, a partner at BIG. “From an array of straight elements, the museum was constructed in an industrial manner as both a piece of infrastructure and as a building reflecting its natural surroundings. As you approach The Twist, you start to notice the museum reflecting the trees, the hills, and the water below, constantly glimmering and changing its appearance in dialogue with nature.”

Kistefos Sculpture Park showcases a variety of tremendous site-specific works by artists such as Anish Kapoor, Olafur Eliasson, Fernando Botero and etc. The Twist, serving as a natural extension to the park, only adds on to the thriving artistic collection that is already present there. Possessing a futuristic, otherworldly appeal, and spiraling like a deck of cards in the air, The Twist ‘twists’ into an impossible form, providing exquisite views of the park, while being a sight to see in itself.