Sumayya Vally Designs the Asiat-Darse Pedestrian Bridge in Belgium
Amy Duong — June 9, 2023 — Art & Design
References: dezeen
South African architect Sumayya Vally designs the new Asiat-Darse pedestrian bridge for Vivoorde and it is located in Belgium. The bridge appears to look like a series of boats that come together to form a functional bridge. Vally worked on the project to celebrate the Congolese agriculturist Paul Panda Farana, who once resided in the city. She knows Faraba as one of the most important figures of the city who truly represents the region's complex relationships throughout generations.
Vally states, "I was deeply moved to uncover the story of Paul Panda Farnana through our research, which then drove our response to the city's brief for a pedestrian bridge. Trained as a horticulturist at the Vilvoorde Horticultural School not far from the site, this project will revive Farnana's legacy by foregrounding the concept on the species explored in his research, alongside water architectures from the Congo. It is my hope that this project helps to embody and raise awareness on the story of Farnana, and that it reminds us as architects that we have to listen deeply to the grounds of the contexts we work in. There is always architecture waiting to happen in places that are overlooked."
Vally states, "I was deeply moved to uncover the story of Paul Panda Farnana through our research, which then drove our response to the city's brief for a pedestrian bridge. Trained as a horticulturist at the Vilvoorde Horticultural School not far from the site, this project will revive Farnana's legacy by foregrounding the concept on the species explored in his research, alongside water architectures from the Congo. It is my hope that this project helps to embody and raise awareness on the story of Farnana, and that it reminds us as architects that we have to listen deeply to the grounds of the contexts we work in. There is always architecture waiting to happen in places that are overlooked."
Trend Themes
1. Sculptural Pedestrian Bridges - Architects creating pedestrian bridges with unique artistic designs.
2. Cultural Tribute Designs - Designers incorporating cultural tributes into their architectural projects.
3. Function-meets-art Structures - Innovative architectural projects combining functionality with artistic design.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - There is an opportunity for architecture firms to expand their services into creating functional art-focused projects like the Asiat-Darse Pedestrian Bridge.
2. Tourism - Pedestrian bridges with unique designs like this can create travel and tourism opportunities to see these functional art installations in person.
3. Cultural Preservation - There is an opportunity for organizations focused on cultural preservation to collaborate with architects to create projects like the Asiat-Darse Pedestrian Bridge that pay homage to historical figures and cultural traditions.
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