Architects: Rural Urban Framework
Location: Shangzhou, China
Design Team: Joshua Bolchover, John Lin
Area: 65 sqm
Year: 2012
Photographs: Courtesy of Rural Urban Framework
Project Manager: Maggie K Y Ma
Project Team: Jeffery Huang, Mark Kingsley, Kwan Kwok Ying, Wendy Huang
Collaborators: Winview Building Materials & Services Co., Ltd.
The design of the bridge involves a singular loop linking two levels of the riverbank and an additional arm connecting across the river. This produces a wide, direct path for small trucks and motorcycles and a pedestrian path that cuts under the bridge to allow direct access to the river for washing, cleaning or fishing. Steps and shaded areas provide spaces for seating and relaxation. The river has long been an obstacle between the village settlement and the agricultural production farm. Nowadays the villagers are able to commute freely across the river and meet at the bridge for trade and commerce. The bridge has become a social hub for the village.
Despite its small scale this bridge facilitates a critical link for the local village economy. It encourages the villagers to maintain and improve their local economy rather than rely completely on sources being sent back from their children working in the factory towns.
Lingzidi Bridge / Rural Urban Framework originally appeared on ArchDaily, the most visited architecture website on 25 May 2013.
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