Bridges have been one of the most iconic typologies since the moment architecture was titled as such. This is not particularly surprising, given what they do and the nature of the sites which require them- it’s a little hard for something spanning two disparate areas to not be noticed or remembered. That being said, bridges have also been one of the most steadfast typologies in architecture. For millennia bridges have spanned. That’s it.
Courtesy of Planning Korea
Well, the Seoul-based firm, Planning Korea, suggests that there is more to be had. Their proposal for the .67 mile long Paik Nam June Media Bridge in Seoul is more than mere structure, in fact it surpasses superstructure and moves on to megastructure. The bridges swelling and undulating form will indeed be host to the conventional bridge program, but in addition, it will contain a park, meeting spaces, a mall, a museum and more. Solar panels are to cover to bridge’s exterior, generating power for the bridge’s many services.
Courtesy of Planning Korea
Thus, perhaps in the future, bridges will not only bridge between grounds, but themselves become a sort of new ground. Rather than putting a green roof on top of a building to replace the grass used up by the footprint, bridges such as the Paik Nam June Media Bridge will provide green where there previously wasn’t even the opportunity.
Courtesy of Planning Korea
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