"Tabiat Bridge was designed in order to improve access for pedestrians between two public parks, which are divided by highways. Instead of connecting 2 points to each other, the idea was to create multiple paths on each park that would lead people to the bridge. This bridge is a place to linger rather than just to pass, so there are seating areas and green spaces on all parts of the bridge, also restaurants on the two sides of the lower level, to have enough means to make the users stay on it. Creating a curved path was also intended to avoid a single point perspective, which encourages users to keep going.
The curved path with variable width and changes in slopes slows down the users and creates a sense of mystery about the destination. Since the site was covered by trees, the number and location of columns were designed in a way to have minimum footprint on the ground to avoid having to remove trees. This resulted in having three columns which widen on top and form a shape similar to trees. The structural concept was to have a spatial structure large enough to create an inhabitable and architectural space.
The result was a dynamic 3 dimensional truss with two continuous deck levels that sits on three columns. Where the truss meets the columns, it becomes the highest and widest, where the bridge becomes three levels. These third level areas act as viewing platforms. All the levels are connected to each other by stairs and ramps, providing multiple paths throughout the bridge from one level to another. This provides numerous ways to experience the bridge, encouraging pedestrians to wander and get lost on this bridge.
The bridges are usually considered as structural projects, but here the approach was more architectural."
"Tabiat Bridge was designed in order to improve access for pedestrians between two public parks, which are divided by highways. Instead of connecting 2 points to each other, the idea was to create multiple paths on each park that would lead people to the bridge. This bridge is a place to linger rather than just to pass, so there are seating areas and green spaces on all parts of the bridge, also restaurants on the two sides of the lower level, to have enough means to make the users stay on it. Creating a curved path was also intended to avoid a single point perspective, which encourages users to keep going.
The curved path with variable width and changes in slopes slows down the users and creates a sense of mystery about the destination. Since the site was covered by trees, the number and location of columns were designed in a way to have minimum footprint on the ground to avoid having to remove trees. This resulted in having three columns which widen on top and form a shape similar to trees. The structural concept was to have a spatial structure large enough to create an inhabitable and architectural space.
The result was a dynamic 3 dimensional truss with two continuous deck levels that sits on three columns. Where the truss meets the columns, it becomes the highest and widest, where the bridge becomes three levels. These third level areas act as viewing platforms. All the levels are connected to each other by stairs and ramps, providing multiple paths throughout the bridge from one level to another. This provides numerous ways to experience the bridge, encouraging pedestrians to wander and get lost on this bridge.
The bridges are usually considered as structural projects, but here the approach was more architectural."