DnA transforms abandoned viaduct into a 260-meter viewing platform in china

presented as part of the pavilion of china during the venice biennale, DnA‘s shimen bridge responds to the exhibition topic ‘building a future countryside’. the structure connects the shimen and shimen-yu villages located on both banks of songyin river, aiming to become a common public space uniting the two areas. 

all images courtesy of DnA unless stated otherwise

DnA has converted the abandoned, 260-meter long shimen bridge into a viewing platform for the songyi river and the wuyang dam, and can potentially be used in many different ways such as a weekend bridge market or for a holiday parade. the covered wooden structure features a pitched roof that represents the local building typology with openings that echo the structure rhythm of the existing bridge arch. in the middle of the bridge, an enlarged platform planted with tree rows resembles a floating island on the river. 

 
image © designboom

image © designboom

video courtesy of la biennale

designboom’s coverage of the 2018 venice architecture biennale is in partnership with leading energy company edison. edison is taking part in the 16th international architecture exhibition of la biennale di venezia by initiating a path towards sustainability and the efficient use of resources. the collaboration between edison and la biennale is based on awareness that energy is one of the fundamental elements of architecture and of the places, spaces and cities of contemporary life.