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Curvilinear Footbridge Crafted from Sustainable Composite Wood and Steel Embracing Natural Landscapes

Authors:
Cody Jones, Cody Kotrlik, Adolfo Luna, Brandon Lang
Curvilinear Footbridge Crafted from Sustainable Composite Wood and Steel Embracing Natural Landscapes

Project in-detail

Crafted from a blend of sustainable composite wood and steel, the curvilinear footbridge integrates seamlessly with its natural surroundings while facilitating safe pedestrian and cyclist access across a major roadway.
5 key facts about this project
01
Crafted using composite wood for both durability and aesthetic appeal.
02
Integrates cable-stayed design to minimize structural footprint and visual impact.
03
Features a curvilinear shape that mirrors the undulating landscape of the park.
04
Provides distinct viewpoints along the bridge for enhanced user experience.
05
Designed with universal accessibility in mind, ensuring easy navigation for all users.
The Gauja National Park Footbridge in Latvia is a distinctive addition to the park’s landscape, designed to enhance accessibility and provide a visual landmark that honors the region’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. This architectural project serves as a pedestrian and cyclist crossing over a roadway, facilitating easy access to various park amenities. It combines functionality with an aesthetically pleasing design that resonates with its environment.

Unique Design Integration with Landscape

The bridge features a flowing design that mimics the curves of the natural landscape, ensuring an organic integration into the park's topography. This approach minimizes disturbance to the existing environment while maximizing user experience. Its cable-stayed structure allows for a slender and elegant profile, creating visual lightness against the backdrop of the forested surroundings. The combination of steel and composite wood materials further enhances the connection to nature, with wood providing warmth and a tactile experience for users.

Architectural Details and Functional Elements

The footbridge incorporates several critical architectural components designed for both safety and usability. The decking area is broad enough to accommodate both pedestrian and cyclist traffic, promoting inclusivity. Guardrails made from treated wood provide safety while maintaining transparency to retain views of the landscape. Structural supports are strategically placed to provide stability without obstructing the sightlines, allowing visitors to appreciate their surroundings fully. The bridge’s approach ramps are designed to meet universal accessibility standards, ensuring that all individuals can navigate to and from the bridge seamlessly.

Visitors interested in better understanding this project can explore the architectural plans, sections, and designs that illustrate the thoughtful approaches underlying its construction. This documentation reveals the careful consideration given to material selection and structural integrity, further highlighting the project’s successful integration of functional and aesthetic qualities. For a deeper insight into architectural ideas and experiences this project offers, reviewing these elements will provide a comprehensive overview.
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100,000€ Prize / 2025

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

Competition organisers

The 10th edition of the MICROHOME architecture competition invites architects and designers from around the world to explore the possibilities of compact, sustainable living. Hosted by Buildner in collaboration with Kingspan and Hapi Homes, this special edition challenges participants to design an off-grid, modular microhome for a young professional couple, with a maximum floor area of 25 m². Designs should prioritize innovation, efficiency, and real-world feasibility. 

A total prize fund of 100,000 € will be awarded, including three main prizes, the Kingspan Award, and the Hapi Homes Award, which will grant 15,000 € and lead to the construction of the selected design. The final registration deadline is September 25, 2025, and winners will be announced on Decebmer 9, 2025. For full competition details and submission guidelines, visit microhome.info.

Microhome

Design a new small-scale home concept in the 10th edition of MICROHOME — 100,000 € prize + construction

100,000 € PRIZE FUND / KINGPSAN EDITION #10 IDEAS COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 € + Potential realisation
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 22 May 2025
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