Located on the Gulou waterfront in the city of Jiangmen in China, this bridge by LUO Studio connects pedestrians to a resort located on the other side of the waterway underneath. The arched shape of the bridge allows boats to pass under it too, and the bridge itself boasts of a stunningly intricate construction that highlights the use of timber, revitalizing traditional rural culture.
The bridge’s unmistakable arched shape simultaneously allows boats to pass underneath while giving the structure itself a high load-bearing capacity. One of many bridges located on the Gulou waterfront, LUO Studio’s bridge sets itself apart with its uniquely eye-catching and rustic design. The studio employed materials like pinewood, concrete, glass, and aluminum to build the entire bridge.
Designer: LUO Studio
the bridge was commissioned by the Gulou Waterfront eco-tourism resort located across the stream, aiming to combine rural development with the cultural background of local villages on the premise of preserving the unique spatial fabrics featuring mounds and ponds. The resort maintains the form of the basic local water system while organically integrating nature education, parent-child recreation, and fishing & husbandry activities. Its design creates a beautiful facade that’s equally eye-catching during the day as well as at night, and the facade houses a shaded corridor underneath, protecting pedestrians from sun and rain.
“Constructing a covered corridor on bridges has been an old tradition that dates back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period”, says Luo Yujie, principal architect of LUO Studio. “The initial intention was to strengthen the bridge structure, resist rain and moisture, keep the wood dry and prevent it from corrosion.”
At the very base of the bridge lie 3 curved wooden beams that sit parallel to each other, 9 feet apart, providing the bridge with its structural integrity while keeping its arched portion 4m above the water level – enough for small boats carrying supplies or tourists to pass under. Fully considering the manufacturing and transportation costs, each main beam was divided into three sections at appropriate positions, connected and assembled by steel-strengthened bolts on the site, to form the complete wooden beam.
