With So Many New Projects,

being made of concrete and steel,

it was nice to see this 25-metre-long wooden bridge which is located in Gulou, a water village in Jiangmen, China, the photography is by Jin Weiqi and the video is by Jin Weiqi and Xiao Shiming,

the area has a network of waterways and ponds, which is used for fishing and farming, 

with the area now being rebranded as an eco-tourism resort, Gulou Waterfront, LUO Studio was tasked with creating a new pedestrian bridge in the heart of it, there is four metres clearance between the underside of the bridge and the typical water level, "During the fishing civilisation period, roads were poorly developed, so water systems became the key route for transportation and logistics," said the studio, which is led by architect Luo Yujie, "Since bridges need to be walkable while also ensuring more space for boats underneath to pass through, traditional bridge construction techniques in China adopted arches to create space for the passage of boats under bridges, and enhance the effectiveness of the structure."

despite the shape of the bridge, very few of its components are curved. Apart from the three arched beams that form the underside, the structure is almost entirely made from small, regular lengths of pine, "Small wooden components are interlocked and anchored to the three main arched beams, functioning as sub-beams on upper and lower levels," said LUO Studio, "In addition, the two ends of these sub-beams are combined with upward components to form a stable triangle of forces."

metal plates are slotted into the wooden framework, which create shelter and provide natural rainwater drainage,

it is one of several new bridges that are planned as part of the Gulou Waterfront development, with the aim of making the area accessible for pedestrians without causing disruption to fishing boats, "While passing through the platforms from two ends to reach the centre of the bridge corridor, visitors can fully experience the light and shadows from the top, feeling calmness and openness in the mind," added the studio, what a great idea to revert to wood for some projects, the full article is here.