Hasta La Ideas

Chinese Studio ZZHK has completed G Clef Bridge, a pedestrian walkway across the Bailu River in Chengdu, which culminates in a spiralling ramp and viewpoint informed by musical notation.

The bridge connects the French-style town of Bailu – a popular tourist destination also known as Bailu Music Town – with the Diamond Music Hall on the opposite river bank.

ZZHK drew on the area’s status as a destination for music as well as the form of the river to design the bridge, which wraps around a stage at its centre.

“Bailu Music Town lacked a central landmark embodying its theme,” studio founder Zhang Ke told Dezeen. “We aimed to create a landmark and a spiritual fortress.”

“Fulfilling the basic traffic function was essential, but resolving the stylistic conflict between the two banks and enhancing the musical theme of the scenic area were higher objectives,” he continued.

“The modern, geometric Diamond Music Hall and the French-style music town create a stark contrast, posing a significant challenge, yet offering an opportunity for modern design and materials.”

The focal point of the bridge is a spiralling ramp on the river’s eastern bank, which ZZHK said is based on the shape of a treble clef.

Intended as both a space to pass through and to dwell, this spiral creates a continuous route that offers both views out over the surrounding landscape and to a circular stage for music performances at its base.

A shallow pool of water separated from the river by a low wall surrounds this stage, creating the impression of it floating on the river.

“The most crucial design approach was ensuring ‘flow’,” explained Ke. “Maintaining an overall smoothness in form, achieving seamless integration with the surrounding environment and existing buildings, and harmonising the tangible structure with its reflection in water.”

Connecting to this central spiral, an elevated section of the bridge leads above an existing road to a plaza in the town. The longest section of the structure leads across the river to a promenade in front of the Diamond Music Hall.

The structure of G Clef Bridge is a deliberately simple combination of steel columns and box girders, chosen to echo the structure of the nearby music hall and emphasise its sculptural form.

Underneath the walkway, lighting allows the entire bridge to be illuminated at night to create a recognisable landmark for the town.

Other bridges recently featured on Dezeen include a minimalist concrete bridge in Prague and the “anti-iconic” Simone Veil Bridge in Bordeaux.

The photography is by Arch-Exist Photography unless stated otherwise.

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