china's winding theatre park bridge echoes its natural environment & the lotus architecture

sterling presser architects bridges art and nature

Not just a footbridge but an invitation to the arts, the Theatre Park Bridge by Sterling Presser Architects + Engineers in China winds over the river Xiahoe to connect a car park to the Taiyun Outdoor Theatre. Unraveling as a sequence composition, the path’s indirect route allows visitors to arrive from the side over the park and discover the water step by step.

As it curves in harmony with the contours of the landscape, it announces the arrival of the playful lotus geometry of the theatre’s structure at its end. Its non-repetitive Moiré pattern creates a vibrant red surface that subtly stands out against the landscape and enlivens the public space.

Theatre Park Bridge by Sterling Presser Architects + Engineers | all images by Rex Zou

its curvature announces the theatre’s lotus geometry

The double-curved Theatre Park Bridge weaves in a gentle movement to echo the undulations of its architectural counterpart, developing from the same geometry. Designed as a sculptural infrastructure that guide visitors from the carpark along the meanders of the river to the theatre, the footbridge also connects to the whole park around the area.

Encouraging direct contact between the structure and the user, the team at Sterling Presser Architects + Engineers have lined the bridge with a geometric balustrade. Created using parametric design, the balustrade lends an element of visually abstracted dynamism, interacting with natural light and generating a play of shadows. It’s geometric detailing enhances the curvature of the bridge and creates various ever-changing imagery and reading points as pedestrians or vehicles pass by at different speeds.

a sculptural connection between the car park, nature, and theatre

the indirect route encourages visitors to appreciate the environment before approaching the theatre

parametrically designed balustrades generate a play of light and shade throughout the day

project info:

name: Theater Park Bridge
architecture: Sterling Presser

location: Taiyuan, China

photography: Rex Zou

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom