模糊边界
Blurred lines
环元荡贯通桥（以下简称“元荡桥”）连接上海青浦与江苏吴江，是长三角一体化示范区的首座新建慢行桥。整座桥融入了生态、交通、文化和景观，成功模糊了桥梁结构与雕塑的边界。元荡桥上加入了不常见于人行桥的元素，这些设计打造了自然与基础设施交杂的混合体，为行人提供了一系列惊喜且连续的游览体验，让他们能够在此享受休闲娱乐与探索的时光。
Forging a connection between Jiangsu Province and Shanghai, the Yuandang Pedestrian Bridge blurs the lines between structure and sculpture, with an ensemble that incorporates ecology, transportation, culture and landscape. Combining elements typically not seen in a pedestrian bridge, the design embraces hybrid conditions where nature and infrastructure come together to create surprising and unexpected experiences for its pedestrians, creating moments of respite, discovery and engagement.
文化串联
Cultural link
桥梁规划与周边环境相结合。元荡湖两岸遍布湿地公园，并都设有人行步道网络与车行道网络。基于两岸区域的这些共性，业主与BAU的目标达成一致：在桥上展现两省的共同文化。
The nature of the surrounding context is aided with the development of the programmatic requirements for the bridge. The districts on both sides of the Yuandang Lake feature extensive networks of wetland parks along waterways and the lake, and have pedestrian path nets and bicycle greenway nets. With these commonalities on both sides of the lake, the client’s and BAU’s ambition was to represent the shared culture of the two provinces in one bridge.
设计巧思
Grotesque and figurative
景亭中的多孔雕塑便是BAU对当地文化传统的一种诠释，其灵感来自太湖岩石。这种硬质石灰岩受水侵蚀会形成大面积孔隙，常见于苏州太湖附近的洞庭山麓。其表面展现的纹理和光影变换，以及风能够穿过的孔隙是这一景亭雕塑试图展现的岩石特性。
One interpretation of a shared local cultural tradition is the porous sculptural pavilion that references the collecting and displaying of the Lake Tai (Taihu) rock. Found at the foothills of Dongting Mountain near Lake Tai in Suzhou, the hard limestone rocks have a large scale porosity formed from water erosion. The rock is valued for a variety of its formal qualities including surface texture, play of light, shade and wind through its holes, which are some of the qualities that the pavilion seeks to evoke.
艺术与游乐
Playgrounds are better than art
作为一个公共项目，元荡桥上的多孔雕塑不仅是视觉观赏艺术，还是一个可供孩童攀爬、玩乐的游乐场。这种可承重的几何结构是BAU探索最小表面数字模型的产物。
Being a public project it was important that this sculptural element was more than visual - it is an element that children can climb and play within. The geometry of this element is based on a minimal surface mathematical model.
浮动花园
Floating garden
除了象征性地引用文化元素外，BAU还高度重视设计中的生态部分，以及如何让元荡桥超越地域连接这一表面属性，从更多层面更深入地连接江苏省和上海市。桥梁以“同心结”为理念，打造成曲线形态。6米宽的桥面标准段被划分为三个部分：自行车道、人行步道和绿化带。种植了大量当地植物的绿化带使整座桥如一个连接两岸的浮动花园。
Beyond symbolically referencing cultural elements, we placed high importance on ecological components of the design and how the bridge could become a connector between Jiangsu Province and Shanghai in more ways than one. The bridge’s winding path and a six-metre wide deck features three bands: cycling path, walking path and a space for local vegetation that creates an appearance of a floating garden connecting the river banks.
古典园林
Garden principle
元荡桥采用了两岸公园网络的蜿蜒曲线设计，使其如同从两岸平滑延伸出来的桥梁。同时，我们将中国古典园林的设计理念运用于其中，创造了独特且别致的新型景观。
The serpentine plan of both of the park’s networks is adopted for the bridge, making it a smooth formal extension. It also provides the benefit of varying progressive views, a Chinese classical garden principle.
不只是一座桥
More than a bridge
元荡桥上建设了许多不常见于桥上的基础设施。桥面有三个加宽段以方便游客休息或停驻欣赏湖景。它融入了绿化带、雕塑游乐场、广场、凉亭和长椅等，吸引行人在闲暇时候前来探索及游玩。
The Yuandang Pedestrian Bridge provides a variety of amenities not usually seen in a bridge. While the deck is divided into three primary bands, it varies in width to accommodate widened sections for resting and enjoying the views of the lake. It combines vegetation, sculptural play spaces, plazas, shading and seating to entice pedestrians to explore and enjoy the bridge at their leisure.
生物多样性
Don’t forget biodiversity
为了维护生物多样性，我们提议不仅要在桥上栽种植被，还要在湖上新岛和湖床上种植。这些提议多数已由专家按设计方案完成。在多方为促成建设本土动植物栖息地的共同努力下， 如今当地已达成新的承诺以修复还原健康的生物多样性环境。
With the ambition of supporting biodiversity, we proposed not only planting upon the bridge, but also planting on new islands in the lake and planting on the lakebed. Much of the this has since been completed by specialists following our plan. With all the initiatives working together to form a habitat for indigenous flora and fauna, there is now a renewed promise to restore the area to a healthy biodiverse environment. The serpentine plan of both of the park's networks is adopted for the bridge, making it a smooth formal extension.