Project: Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge
Designed by 2:pm Architectures
Project Team: Matthieu Bergeret, Hans Lefevre, Paul Rolland
Use – Site Area: 2000 m2
Building Area: 700 m2
GFA: 200 m2
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Website: www.2pmarchitectures.com
2:pm Architectures take the prestige 2nd price for the design of Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge, this much-buzzed-about competition was hosted by [AC-CA].
From the Architects:
Philosophy. The objectiv of a pedestrian bridge is to linkbanks and make human crossing easier. It is not there to be seen, it generates social habits. The design is less important than the function. The same elements that made the crossing complicated (the water)will help to resolve the main goal : the support of the bridge (Archimede).
The illusionism and the mythology take part of the project : who ever dreamed of being Jesus, walking on the sea ?
That’s not the design that will be unforgattable, but the memory of crossing it.
Minimum efforts. To use the elements that are provided by the site place : water that makes the crossing complicated will finally help this crossing.
Physics are invoked with the help of Archimede.
Pieces of bridge are brought to the project site using boats.
The bridge is divided into pieces. One of them will be filled up to shrink and let the boats pass through. Once the boats have left, the srhunk piece will be filled up with air to make it float again and make human crossing possible.
The design of the floating bridge is easy thanks to the stable level of water in the canals.
Emotional. Crossing the floating bridge is a unique experience, so close to the water level.
A swell breaker along the bridge helps creating a calm water surface beside the bridge will the water is less calm further.
Security. A security space is created in both sides of the bridge under the water.
The crossing is not possible when boats are passing through.
Functional. The pedestrian bridge floats thanks to the air stocked in it siron tanks and the support of the water : humancrossing
The middle part of the bridge is filled up with water : boats crossing.
