In anticipation of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, architecture firm Penda has been commissioned to build the San Shan Bridge, which will span the Gui River and connect Beijing to Zhangjiakou. But rather than finding inspiration from any winter sports, the Penda architects looked to a bicycle wheel in their design. The Shan San Bridge concept is suspended by 360 degrees of cabling surround the entire platform via 300 foot diameter rings, like a hub and spokes.
Though perhaps the Winter Olympic Games in particular are not behind the radical design, the rings that surround the San Shan Bridge were indeed meant to be a reference to the Olympic rings, albeit in white rather than in the famous five color combination. The complex, modern bridge design also follows in the modern trend of energy and materials efficiency, as Penda claims that it will require five times less steel than a typical box girder bridge.
360-Degree Suspension Bridges
The San Shan Bridge Concept Hovers Via a Spoke and Wheel Design
Trend Themes
1. 360-degree Suspension Bridge Design - Opportunity for architects and engineers to explore innovative ways to suspend bridges using 360 degrees of cabling.
2. Biomimicry in Architectural Design - Potential for architects to draw inspiration from natural structures, such as bicycle wheels, to create innovative and efficient bridge designs.
3. Energy and Materials Efficiency in Bridge Construction - Demand for bridge designs that require less steel and materials while maintaining structural integrity, opening up opportunities for sustainable construction practices.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Architects can explore disruptive innovations in suspension bridge design, drawing inspiration from various sources like bicycle wheels and natural structures.
2. Engineering - Engineers have the opportunity to develop new techniques and technologies for constructing efficient and sustainable suspension bridges with reduced material requirements.
3. Construction - Construction companies can leverage the trend of energy and materials efficiency in bridge construction to offer sustainable and cost-effective solutions to clients.