Going Walkabout: 7 Undulating Pedestrian Bridges

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The pedestrian bridge can be an architectural showpiece for a firm. It can be the simplest structure, transporting pedestrians easily over roads, waterways or hilly terrain, or the architect can use a bridge project as an opportunity to express their personal artistic style. While a pedestrian bridge is open to the architect’s interpretation, it is a challenge to find a balance between artistic expression and practicality of a structure.

The bridges in this collection strike a balance between form and function. The circular rotation of multiple pedestrian bridges in this collection allows for boat traffic to pass underneath the bridges on busy commercial waterways, while creating an easier way to navigate the city for pedestrians. On the other hand, structures like the Tabiat bridge links two sides of a valley in Tehran, helping pedestrians and creating a scenic lookout point that is a destination in itself.

In parks and nature preserves, the pedestrian bridge can be a useful tool to give a visitor a new vantage point to see the terrain of natural features of the park without imposing on nature the larger development that would be required to bring cars to the same point. Explore these different interpretations of the pedestrian bridge typology — at a leisurely pace, naturally.

Cirkelbroenby Studio Olafur Eliasson, Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen’s many canals can present a challenge to the many pedestrians and cyclists of the city. Cirkelbroen is a great example of a bridge that respects both pedestrian traffic and boat traffic in the canal, and makes moving around the city more efficient.

Henderson Waves by RSP Architects Planners Engineers, Singapore

Henderson Waves is Singapore’s highest pedestrian bridge connecting Mount Faber Park to Telok Blangah Hill Park. It is a destination in itself: It creates great views for pedestrians and offers places to relax in the shade while walking between the parks.

Water Lilies Bridge by Bulant & Wailzer, Tulln, Austria

The Water Lilies Bridge connects a small Austrian Town to a new exhibition in the forest surrounding the town. The bridge also gives users a new perspective of the small wooded area adjacent to the river.

Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge by Diba Tensile Architecture, Tehran, Iran

Connecting two public parks over a highway, the Tabiat Pedestrian bridge is designed to be a place to linger and to relax. The curved line of the bridge is specifically made to encourage people to sit down instead of continuing on to the next park.

Festina Lente Bridge by Amila Hrustić, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

This bridge is one of many that cross the river in the heart of Sarajevo. It is meant to symbolize a union between the spiritual and the secular communities across the city.

Scale Lane Bridge by McDowell+Benedetti, Kingston-upon-Hull, United Kingdom

This unique swing bridge allows pedestrians to ride on the moving structure as it opens and closes. It is one of the first pedestrian bridges to link the historic town to the more industrial east bank and hopes to inspire more people to visit and move to that side of the river.

Oil Harbor Bridgeby schneider+schumacher / Frankfurt – Vienna – Tianjin, Raunheim, Germany

The Oil Harbor Bridge was needed to keep people away from the nearby oil tanks while giving them great views of the river. The architects wanted to emphasize the bridge’s leisure use with seating and a large circular ramp that makes it easy for bikers and joggers to ascend to the highest point of the bridge.

Architizer's 13th A+Awards features a suite of sustainability-focused categories that recognizing designers that are building a green industry — and a better future. Start your entry to receive global recognition for your work!