BAU’s new project: Yuandang Pedestrian Bridge will open to the public in spring next year.

BAU Brearly Architects + Urbanists was invited to design the Yuandang Pedestrian Bridge, the first of several projects to celebrate the coming together of Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. After a few months of high-intensity construction, a 585-meter-long bridge is about to be revealed. The bridge is a hybrid structure incorporating landscape, infrastructure, and architecture. It is located in a key location on the fringe of Qingpu District, Shanghai and Wujiang District, Jiangsu. The figure of the bridge resembles a ribbon and echoes water ripples on the Yuandang Lake below. Trees and shrubs are incorporated in the bridge, giving the appearance of a floating garden connecting the two banks. The six-meter- wide bridge deck is divided into three bands: cycling path, vegetation band and walking path. The winding bridge has three widened sections for resting and enjoying the lake view. Taking inspiration from local sculptural traditions, bridge’s pavilion explores contemporary mathematics modeling to create a porous wall that is both sculpture and playground. The bridge is a dynamic ensemble, integrating ecology, transportation, landscape, and culture.