GOING FOR GOLD
27 Jul 2016
In preparation for the 2022 Winter Games, Penda reveals plans for a new bridge to be constructed in Beijing in the form of a double-helix pattern influenced by the Olympic symbol.
Beijing and vienna-based architecture studio Penda have put forth their proposal for the San Shan Bridge, which will span the Giu River and provide a gateway between the dense city of Beijing and the undulating river valleys in the north. The sequence of arches forms a pre-stressed double-helix and is influenced by the Olympic symbol. Designed by ARUP, the structures intersect and support each other on the bottom and the top, with the helix engineered to be as slender as possible and positioned to offer the best structural performance.
The main structure of the bridge is conceived as a series of rings, which connect at their highest and lowest points. Each arch is composed of five steel tubes connected by batten plates and utilises five times less steel than a conventional box girder bridge. The bridge deck is suspended from the structure by high-strength steel-cables, connecting to the arches in a cross-weave pattern.
Construction is scheduled to coincide with the Olympic winter games in 2022.
The English translation of Penda’s bridge is 3 Mountains and describes the form of the bridge as seen from the side, with its three arches connecting to its undulating backdrop. The bridge forms a dynamic sculptural gateway to the more mountainous scenery on the way to Zhangjiakou, where all the major outdoor competitions at the Beijing Olympics will be taking place. At the same time, the area next to the bridge construction will evolve into a recreational district for the locals. In a wider plan, the area will essentially form a public link to the Beijing expansion masterplan that will integrate the new territories into the capital’s urban fabric.
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