Xinjin County Landscape Bridges

POSTED ON: 04.26.2010

WXY has teamed up with Weidlinger Associates Inc., a prominent structural engineering firm, to design four landscape bridges in Xinjin County, China for the Chengdu Xinjin Urban & Rural Development Investment Company Limited (URDI)’s design competition.

For the Nanhe River Landscape Bridge, the team’s winning design approach was to create a vision that evokes the flow of the river. Like a main path in a great park, the journey across the bridge should be an experience unto itself.

The undulating curves of the bridge reflect the waves of the river at the heart of Xinjin. The helical bridge is held up by five multi-limbed supports, increasing the current spacing for watercraft and other recreational uses of the river.

The two intertwined ribbons also serve a practical purpose by greatly expanding the capacity of the bridge to allow it to keep pace with Xinjin’s future growth.

For residents and visitors, the riverfront esplanades on both sides of the river provide important places to view and access the river. Springing seamlessly from these esplanades, the intertwined spans of the Nanhe River Landscape Bridge extend the park-like experience across the river itself.

The complex form of the bridge is derived from the linear extrusion of a simple steel box girder; its clear red color will resonate against the grey blue colors of Xinjin's hillside landscape. The bridge design provides a strong iconic image while making an exciting space to walk and overlook Xinjin.

The sinuous curves of the Nanhe River Landscape Bridge emulate this body of water while simultaneously channeling the centuries-long tradition of Chinese landscape bridges. Thus a contemporary symbol of Xinjin is born that draws inspiration from the city's most timeless qualities.