The design for the bridge was created more than a decade ago in the studio of one of the most important figures in contemporary architecture. The actual implementation took approximately six years and today it returns as a finished structure that fundamentally transforms the functioning of transport and urban planning.
“Designing a bridge of this scale is an exceptional technical and design challenge. At the same time, it is an opportunity to participate in connecting places that previously did not have the opportunity to communicate easily,” says Saman Saffarian. The architect attended the ceremonial ceremony on May 9 and the public opening of the bridge on May 12.
The bridge spans the Tamsui River estuary and connects the Tamsui and Bali districts of New Taipei. The bridge, with a total length of 920 meters with a main span of 450 meters on the west side and 175 meters on the east side, supports a single pylon in the shape of an inverted Y, 200 meters high. The project, with an investment cost of approximately 400 million US dollars (roughly 9 billion crowns), is one of the most important infrastructure projects in Taiwan today.
The new bridge will significantly relieve the existing traffic load in the area and improve the accessibility of the northern coast of Taiwan. According to estimates, it will reduce the load on the Guandu Bridge by tens of percent and shorten travel times between individual parts of the city.
The shape of the bridge was not created solely as a technical solution. The design underwent a number of adjustments with regard to the local context, including the principles of feng shui, which play an important role here. The shape of the pylon, the direction of the structure and the overall composition thus reflect not only static and aesthetic requirements, but also the relationship of the building to the landscape and its perception.
You can find photos at this link. tomto odkazu