Changsha 'China Knot' pedestrian bridge

NEXT architects are currently designing a series of distinctive bridges around the world. Their previous eye-catching design was the Bat Bridge, nominated for the 2016 Dutch Design Awards; now they have produced an iconic bridge in Changsha, China: the Chinese Knot footbridge. The steel pedestrian bridge, 185 metres long and 24 metres high, is a perfect expression of NEXT architects' distinctive architectural style. It engages clearly with its local environment and offers people a new way of looking at the city. The eye-catching Chinese Knot has Dutch design roots, reflecting the fact that NEXT architects has offices in both Beijing and Amsterdam. In 2013, after completing the remarkable Melkweg Bridge, the firm decided to enter an international competition to design a new bridge over the Longwang River in the rapidly developing Xinhu district of Changsha. To tackle this special brief, the Amsterdam and Beijing teams joined forces and produced the winning, one-of-a-kind design: the Chinese Knot footbridge. The Dutch team was responsible for infrastructure and water management, while the Chinese team handled site reconnaissance and design, the two most important links in the project. The bridge has now become a local landmark and was selected by CNN as one of the most spectacular bridges breaking the mould. The S-shaped steel structure loops over the river, doubling back on itself to form a knot that can be walked through in multiple directions, turning a crossing into a destination. The project is a demonstration of how a Chinese-Dutch collaborative practice can translate the imagery of a traditional knot into a contemporary infrastructural landmark.