Developments in modern architecture have led to some forward-thinking bridge designs in every shape and size. From curved constructions to others inspired by insects, architects are turning to a number of sources for their next big feat in building redesign.
The Olhafen Bridge for example was designed with pedestrian safety in mind. Its modern look encourages users to stick to the main path and avoid deviating too far from the cemented area. Oil tanks stand nearby, which was why safety was such an important part of this project. Another slightly more costly design is the Dragon Bridge located in Da Nang, Vietnam, which boasts fire at various intervals. At a cost of $85 million for the bridge designs, it better belch fire considering the expense!
65 Bold Bridge Designs
From Constantly Curved Bridges to Traffic-Slowing Structures:
Jamie Danielle Munro — Mar 18, 2014 — Eco
64
Abridged Abodes
Bridge Homes, Like those by H3ar, Let You Live on the Water
63
Modern Chinese Water Walkways
L & A Design Group's Footbridge Features an Artificial Island
62
Fantasy Bridges
OFF Architecture's Surreal Entry for Bering Strait Connection
61
Insect-Inspired Architecture
The Taipei Cicada Pop Music Center Mixes Bold Forms with Pop Culture
60
Constantly Curved Bridges
The Olhafen Bridge by 'schneider+schumacher' Avoids Straight Lines
59
Overgrown Pedestrian Overpasses
Issy les Moulineaux Promenade is a Natural Connection in Paris
58
Wavy River Walkways
The Maribor Footbridge by Ja Studio & Tadj-Farzin Studio
57
Sky Bridge Transport Hubs
The Rostov-on-Don Airport is a Contemporary Monument to World Travel
56
Bridges as Architectural Wonders
9 Global Connectors
55
Overgrown Overpass Landscapes
The Thames Garden Bridge Adds Greenery to the London Cityscape
54
Red Winding Walkways
West 8 Architects' Twist Bridge Inspires Imagination in a Functional Way
53
Bridge Homes
Stanley Saitowitz Creates a Ravine-Crossing Abode
52
Animal Overpasses
The Wildlife Bridge Protects Woodland Creatures from Becoming Roadkill
51
Water-Filtering Bridges
China's Miyi Tower Will Clean River Below, Foster Cultural Arts Above
50
Giant LEGO Bridges
Australian Team Create 46-Foot Freestanding Bridge
49
DNA Bridge Designs
Singapore Unveils Its Double Helix Bridge
48
Sundial Bridge
Art Meets Architecture
47
Rollercoaster Architecture
The Escalator in the Umeda Sky Building Looks Like a Space RIde
46
Deceptive Bridge Designs
The NEXT Architects Möbius Strip Bridge Can't Be Crossed
45
Mini-City Bridges
The Paik Nam June Media Bridge is a Self-Sufficient Mega-Structure
44
Multi-Colored Stringed Bridges
HOTTEA Created a Gorgeous and Colorful Threaded Canopy
43
Aquatic Condo Connectors
The Bishan Central Condominium Project Features a Swimmable Sky Bridge
42
Skybridge Buildings
Steven Holl Architects' Mixed Used Complex Connects in Every Way
41
Living Bridges
Cherrapunji's Root Passageways Prove Eco Design Isn't New
40
Visitor-Controlled Light Bridges
Vivid Sydney's 2013 Centerpiece is an Interactive Light-Up Bridge
39
Floating English Footbridges
‘High Tide Street' from James Gardener is a Cultural Hub
38
Water-Entrenched Walkways
The Fort de Roovere Trench Lets You Walk Without Getting Wet
37
Sustainable Shipping Container Bridges
This Eco-Friendly Bridge is Also a Hot Spot for Tourists
36
Sinuous River Viaducts
The Chongqing Eco-Bridge Translates Natural Beauty into Industrial
35
Futuristic Pivoting Footbridges
The Scale Lane Bridge Moves Out of the Way for Boats
34
Revolutionary Water Roads
Falkirk Wheel Bridges Gap From Edinburgh to Glasgow
33
Japanese Fan-Like Bridges
Difficult Design for a UK Walkway is Inspired by Asian Culture
32
Car-Powered Bridges
The Cross-Wind Bridge Creates Power from Auto Speeds Below
31
Beachfront Bridge Abodes
Bknr Arquitectura is Set to Construct a Habitable Bridge in Acapulco
30
Wave-Riding Bridges
Drifting Horizons is Sensitive to the Stir of the River Thames
29
Bold Currency-Imitating Architecture
Robin Stam Builds Real Versions of the Bridges on the Euro
28
Glowing Squiggle Bridges
The Pedestrian Walkway in Telok Blangah Hill Park in Singapore
27
Crafted Paper Bridges
Shigeru Ban Built a River-Spanning Bridge Out of 281 Cardboard Tubes
26
Sculptural Pavilion Overpasses
The Lens Bridge Offers Exciting Entertainment
25
Traffic-Slowing Structures
Twelve Bridges Designed by Drost and Van Veen Architects
24
Spiraling Pedestrian Paths
The Arganzuela Footbridge Has a Sculptural Presence
23
Modern Rope Bridges
Pedestrian Bridge Helps Chileans Cross the Highway
22
Butter-Covered Bridges
Guangzhou Turns Fatty Food Into Life-Saver by Slipping Up Suicide Attempts
21
Vermin Viaducts
European Cities Build Bridges for Mice at the Cost of Over $290,000
20
Bridging River Retreats
The Colorado River Bridge Hotel Also Doubles as a Footbridge
19
Triple Pathway Bridges
Progettospore Design Offers a Twisted Pedestrian Pathway in Italy
18
Suspended Bridge Neighborhoods
San Francisco Toys With Numerous Bay Bridge Options
17
Roundabout Cyclist Overpasses
The Hovenring Bridge by IPV Delft Helps Reduce Traffic in Eindhoven
16
Fire-Breathing Bridges
This $85 Million Dragon Bridge in Vietnam Lights Up and Breathes Fire
15
Red Ribboned Bridges
Pedestrian Footbridge by Bernard Tschumi and Hugh Dutton Associes
14
Cardboard Bridges
Japanese Architect's Eco-Friendly Bridge in France
13
Portable Bridges
Bruggenhoofd Chabot Allows Passage Over a Hedge
12
Boatlike Bridges
Brisbane's Shipshape Tank Street Structure
11
Futuristic Flora Bridges
The Urban Reforestation Project Aims to Make Kuala Lumpur Greener
10
Handshake-Inspired Bridges
The 'LM Project' in Denmark
9
Boldly Aerodynamic Bridges
Doha's Sharq Crossing will Help to Cure the City's Traffic Flow Issues
8
Nature-Inspired Bridge Designs
This Twig Bridge Draws Inspiration from Nature for Its Design
7
World's Longest Arch Bridge
667 Meter Bridge in Dubai
6
Winterized Pedestrian Bridges
Tullhus Bridge is Heated to Prevent a Dangerous Iced-Over Conditions
5
Illuminated Ephemeral Bridges
The Sölvesborg Bridge Uses Lights to Show Off its Dramatic Arch
4
Water-Cleaning Biker Bridges
Margot Krasojevic Footbridge Aims to Clean Amsterdam's Dirty Canals
3
Airy Cloud-Inspired Bridges
The Concept Cloudbridge by A>T Floats Between Mountains
2
Glowing Green Bridges
A Gridded Walkway by Jacques Ferrier Architects
1
Transparent Urban Elevators
The Urban Elevator by Ah Asociados Brings People Together
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Bamboo Indonesian Learning Centers
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Eye-Catching Water Sculptures
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Architecturally Stunning Cultural Landmarks
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3D-Printed Tall Concrete Towers
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Traffic Light-Inspired Benches
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Visionary Architectural Pier Strategies
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Streamlined Modern Residences
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Lakefront District Towers
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Sweeping Culture Centers
Zaha Hadid Architects Presents the River Culture and Art Centre
Elevated Flood Refuge Homes
The Lift House Reimagines a Red Cottage That Rises with Flood Waters
Chinese Tradition-Honoring Structures
MAD Architects Forms the Chinese Paper Umbrella Structure
Triple Path Footbridges
The Three Waves Footbridge Has Three Steel Pathways That Rise and Fall
Bamboo-Inspired Railway Districts
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Lighthouse-Resembling Urban Buildings
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Voyage Boat-Like Pavilions
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Detroit Tower Redevelopments
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Urban Soundscape Installations
Moment Installation Alters London Bridge Rush-Hour into Light
Contemporary Wooden City Halls
BGLA Designs the La Pêche New City Hall
Architectural Wall Designs
Heatherwick Presents Humanise Wall at the Seoul Architecture Biennale
Abstract Colorfully Vibrant Playscapes
100architects Designs the Wired Scape Playground
Segmented Lightflow Art Pavilions
Marine Tabassum Creates a Capsule in Time Pavilion
Interactive Architectural Pavilions
The Folding Landscape Pavilion Turns Design into a Living Lens
Architectural Midcentury Bike Racks
The Draken Bicycle Stand is Inspired by 1950s Architecture
Lighthouse-Inspired Urban Tall Structures
Safdie Architects Designs the Old Port Square Building
Funnelled Light Forested Spas
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Curved Glass Veiled Stores
The New Tiffany & Co. Store Features a Spiralling Glass Ribbon Façade
Bold Urban Hotels
Hotel Hans Introduces a New Hospitality Building with Sharp Geometric Forms
Sculptural Hostel Designs
VMA Design Studio Presents the Stunning Double B Hostel
Tropical Waterfront Revivals
Jesselton Docklands Plan Transforms Kota Kinabalu Port Sustainably
Car-Free Bridge Span
The Kruunuvuori Bridge is a 1.19km Crossing for Bikes and Pedestrians
Fan‑inspired Arenas
The Kunshan Olympic Sports Centre Sets a New Standard for Stadium Design
Floating Courtyard Homes
The BAAN O+O Home Floats Above Khao Yai on Steel Structure
Sophisticated Government Office Designs
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Outdoor Living-Focused Tower Designs
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Multilevel Garden Skyscrapers
The Sobha SkyParks Tower Will Feature Four Separate Parks in the Sky
Hand-Bent Steel Performance Pavilions
Trahan Architecture Completes the Performance Pavilion
Pearl-Inspired Museums
Dubai Museum of Art by Tadao Ando Evokes Water, Light and Heritage
International Civic Landmarks
Nobel Center by David Chipperfield Architects Will Anchor a Space
Contemporary Adaptable Concrete House
Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos Designs the Binocular House
Lake-Overlooking Tiled Pavilions
BIG Designs the Jinji Lake Pavilion Overlooking Suzhou Lake
Earthen Timber Viewing Pavilions
The Pujiang Platform Hill Pavilion Embeds a Viewing Structure
Topology-Conscious Architectural Interventions
The Oeiras House by OODA is Contemporary
Scandinavian Stone Pavilions
The Mountain Chamber by Erdegård Arkitekter Anchors Structure in Rock
Cantilevered Porous Steel Pavilions
Sanders Pace Architecture Completes the Baker Creek Pavilion
Curved Concrete Chapels
Design Alliance Architects Creates Chapel of the Risen Christ Project
Timber Bridge Houses
The 9.1 Cedar House is a Forest Home by Omer Arbel in British Columbia
Children-Designed Pavilions
Hi Ladders High Shows How Design Can Shape Inclusive Public Spaces
Organic Striking Tower Designs
David Macullo Architects Designs the Leaves Tower
Floating Canopy Sculptures
Marc Fornes Unveils the Piloti Canopy as an Architectural Marvel
Public Sculptural Pergola Barbecues
H30 Architects Designs the Communal Barbecue in Costa Brava
Lakeside Cultural Landmarks
The Isola Della Musica by Renzo Piano Building Workshop Rises in Hanoi
Visually Striking Athletics Centers
NAPUR Architect Designs the National Athletics Center
Traditional Sailing-Inspired Pavilions
Kengo Kuma and Team Design From the Coastline We Progress
Brutalist Hotel Transformation
Fairmont Golden Prague Alters a 70s Space into a Holistic Hotel
Reflection-Encouraging Cohesive Churches
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Sloped Site Concrete Residences
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Typhoon-Resilient Shelters
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External Walkway Pavilion-Style Homes
DFJ Architects Connects Wings in the Mango Lane House
Romantic Seaside Pier Pavilions
GN Architects Designs the Seaside Pavilion in China
Industrial Canal Restaurants
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Ribbon-Like Dynamic Structures
Zaha Hadid Presents the Capital International Exhibition Space
Floating Opera Buildings
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Floating River Cabins
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Vast Wooden Structural Pavilions
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Architecturally Striking Cooking Schools
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Rooftop Walkway-Topped Buildings
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Completes the Shenzhen Energy Ring
Interactive Public Pavilions
The Radius Transformation Pavilion Lets Visitors Shape Space
Sun-Inspired Disc-Topped Museums
SMAR Architecture Studio Designs the Science Island Museum
Dynamic Sculptrual Research Hubs
The Ragon Institute Rests on Top of a Triangular Site
Balanced Industrial Building Designs
HA-HA Design & Development Presents the Aluned Hq Project
Building-Nestled Compact Cafes
A Triangular Prism Chapel Cafe Creates Calm in Bucharest
Bold Architectural Renovations
Flat Iron House Showcases a Sculptural Staircase as Its Centrepiece
Sleek Contemporary Elevated Retreats
Brown & Brown Architects Designs the Tidal House
Textured Glass Landmarks
Helsinki Design and Architecture Museum Designed as Clear Public Pavilion
Stone-Like Discreet Glass Viewpoints
DoDesign Created the Drifting Stones Pavilion in China
Contemporary Library Designs
JSWD Architects Presents the Brühl City Hall and Library
Pedestrian Viaduct Extension
The Albi Footbridge Redefines Mobility & Views Along Historic Viaduct
Curved Green Towers
The Island Introduces Gaudi-Inspired Balconies to a Residential Building
Ribbon-Like Riverfront Parks
Heatherwick Studio Unveils Designs for the Belvedere Park
Taiwan Coastal Bridges
The Danjiang Bridge Connects Northern Taiwan with Architectural Grace
Elevated Water Towers
Temperaturas Extremas Designs The Bird & Mammal Shelter and Water Reservoir
Hillside Embedded Residences
The House in the Slope Harmonizes Architecture with Riverside Terrain
Architecturally Illuminated Structures
Puri Lighting Design Presents the Zhangbei Mirage Project
High-Rise Design Renos
The Watergate Pied-à-Terre Renovation Boasts Mid-Century Curves
Redesigned Curved Apartments
Curved Apartment Interior Has a New Layout Shaped by Soft Geometry
Prefabricated Timber Cabins
Wiki World’s Red Bridge Cabin Is a Modular Retreat in China
Peaceful Compact Vibrant Residences
Dragon Tiny Homes Designs a New Home on a Triple Axle Trailer
Reimagined Riverside Hubs
Gate M West Bund Dream Center Transforms a Former Cement Complex
Harbor Opera Landmarks
The Hamburg State Opera Project Reimagines Performance Architecture
Canyon Viewing Platforms
The 72 Turns Canyon Scenic Area Has a Glass Walkway Over Nujiang River
Wave-Inspired Civic Halls
The Sail Congress Centre in Big Normandy Curves into Public Architecture
Inverted Boat Chapels
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Arched Garden-Topped Cultural Centers
Atelier Apeiron Creates the Hengqin Culture and Art Complex
Terraced Urban Landmarks
The Go Park Sai Sha Bringsvarious Elements Together in a Sculptural Hub
National Park Visitor Centers
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