penda's bridge for 2022 beijing winter olympics sculpted with double-helix arches

penda’s bridge for 2022 beijing winter olympics sculpted with double-helix arches
all images © penda architecture & design

beijing and vienna-based architecture studio penda has proposed their design for the ‘san shan bridge‘ to span across the giu river and provide a gateway between the dense city of beijing to the undulating river valleys in the north. the sequence of arches form a pre-stressed double-helix and is influenced by the olympic symbol. the structure intersects and supports each other on the bottom and the top with the helix designed and engineered by ARUP to be as slender as possible and positioned to offer the best structural performance.

the bridge deck is suspended from the structure by high-strength steel-cables, that connect to the arches in a
cross-weaving way

the construction is scheduled to coincide with the olympic winter games in 2022, the english translation of penda’s bridge is 3 mountains (三⼭山) and  describes the form of the bridge seen from the side with its 3 arches connecting to its undulating backdrop. the bridge forms a dynamic sculpture to a more mountainous scenery on the way to zhangjiakou, where all 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 citizens and essentially, form a public link for a wider beijing expansion masterplan and integrate the new territories into capital’s urban fabric. 

each arch is composed of five steel tubes connected by batten plates

based on its dual helix structure, the bridge utilises 5 times less steel than a conventional box girder bridge

the construction is scheduled to coincide with the olympic winter games in 2022

the main structure of the bridge is conceived as a series of rings, which connect at their highest and lowest points

the bridge connects the city center of beijing with zhangjiakou

model of san shan bridge

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