# Bridging Gaps with Art & Relaxation Ireland's "Living Bridge" By lourdes sanchez bayas | Published 2008-03-17 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/a-bridge-with-art-displays-and-resting-places-irelands-living-bridge References: [dezeen](http://www.dezeen.com/2008/03/17/living-bridge-by-wilkinson-eyre-architects/) This is the **Living Bridge** in the Limerick Republic of Ireland. It was created by London-based architects Wilkinson Eyre. The bridge, which was finished in November 2007, crosses the [river Shannon](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chalk-river-house) in five spans. The deck was built so that its width fluctuates along the length of the whole structure to allow for the accommodation of resting places and [public art displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/surreal-street-art-1). "The design grows from the site, an organic response to a natural environment," says Dezeen. "A curvaceous deck sweeps across the Shannon and its embankments in five spans between strategically located support locations. The impression is both of a single crossing but also of a series of bridges jumping from pier to pier, like stepping-stones." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.8/10 - Popularity: 10% | Activity: 6% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Living Bridge:** Opportunity for integrating art and relaxation spaces into bridge design to enhance public experience and engagement. - **Fluctuating Width:** Potential for creating flexible bridge decks that adjust in width to accommodate various features such as rest areas and art installations. - **Organic Design:** Innovation opportunity for bridges to be designed as an organic response to the natural environment, enhancing aesthetics and sustainability. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Architecture:** Architectural firms can explore incorporating art, relaxation spaces, and flexible designs in their bridge projects to create unique and engaging structures. - **Public Art:** Opportunity for public art organizations to collaborate with architects and bridge designers to enhance the visual experience and storytelling potential of bridges. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners can consider integrating innovative bridge designs that harmoniously blend with the natural surroundings, offering new opportunities for public interaction and leisure activities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Bamboo Indonesian Learning Centers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-living-bridge.md) - [Welded Steel Cantilevered Footbridges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sculptural-footbridge.md) - [Pedestrian Viaduct Extension](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vincent-boutin.md) - [Artful Cartoonish Canal Bridges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canal-skybridge.md) - [Spirally Viewpoint Bridge Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/g-clef-bridge.md) - [Bridge-Defining Tranquil Cities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mindfulness-city.md) - [Sheltered Timber Chinese Bridges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fw-ji-covered-bridge-on-aqueduct.md) - [Tunnel Six-Lane Highway](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/land-bridge-and-prairie.md) - [Taiwan Coastal Bridges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-danjiang-bridge.md)