MA2 - Bridge in Paris

The current design proposal is a pedestrian bridge to be located on the River Seine in Paris near the Palais du Louvre. Its objective is to synthesize an architectural response from the cultural, urban, and contemporary movements of Paris, and transport a new experience on the Seine River unique to its surroundings; including to synergize tectonic form with light and surface nuances.

The bridge consists of two structural layers, one for passage crossing, and another for the surface envelope that produces a series of affects to the surrounding landscape. The primary structural support for the pedestrian bridge is an aluminum track system of double bracing that composite a supporting system that can be integrated and attached to various mechanisms for lighting, surface articulation, and additional supporting structures. The secondary is a structural tubing comprised from a network of triangulated frames and panels. This triangulated truss system is designed to carry and distribute weight over long spans. Together being joined and connected to the track system, it creates a narrow pedestrian path that is capable to span over the Seine River in Paris.   

The tectonic envelope that rests on the support system is composed of a light weight carbon fiber mesh and carbon fiber panel system painted with matte white automotive paint. Within the curving shell is inlayed with a black tinted hairline stainless steel for various patterning and reflections. Also embedded are LED lighting strips that flow throughout the surface creating surface articulations for fluxion effects and synergized architectural responses to the body and environmental context. The composite shell is attached to the track system but is primarily supported by the “Y” shaped columns below. The shape is used to emphasize lightness and openness, to give the overall hybrid structure a quality of movement and structural performance.

Designing a bridge over the River Seine calls for an intervention that captures the moment in time of structural and aesthetic capabilities, with regard to the historical context and urbanism of Paris; movement and light are the characteristics and material pallet in which to engage or manifold into an architectural response. The Fluxion Bridge gives pedestrians an experience and view of the city that will heighten, frame, and include the synergized flows of Paris along the Seine River. By using LED lights, projections, and screens for digital art and information, it emphasizes the digital “melee” within cites, but places them in a vortex of sensuous tectonic play of structure, surface, and synthetic glowing movement.