{"id":3886,"date":"2025-11-21T10:30:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T11:30:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/?p=3886"},"modified":"2025-11-24T10:20:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T10:20:34","slug":"paper-folding-informs-folio-bridges-steel-span-over-water-path-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/2025\/11\/21\/paper-folding-informs-folio-bridges-steel-span-over-water-path-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"paper folding informs folio bridge\u2019s steel span over water path in china"},"content":{"rendered":"

Folio Bridge explores structural potential through paper crease<\/h2>\n

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FAR Workshop\u2019s Folio Bridge in Huzhou, China<\/a><\/strong>, draws its concept from the structural behaviour of a folded sheet of A4 paper<\/a><\/strong>. The project examines how a simple crease can reinforce a lightweight material while retaining its inherent thinness and visual delicacy. After testing multiple folding configurations, the design team focused on a single-crease strategy to achieve the required span. The bridge<\/a><\/strong> form was defined by fitting three construction curves and one construction point to the crease line. Working closely with Zhang Zhun\u2019s Structural Research Institute, the team iteratively adjusted the curvature of these lines and the position of the construction point to optimise force distribution across the structure.<\/p>\n

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Because the resulting form created a steeply sloped bridge surface, the design no longer accommodated direct pedestrian circulation along the primary structure. Instead, the curved surface was treated as a landscape-like element. A narrow elevated path was introduced, allowing users to cross the bridge as if traversing a mountain ridge, contrasting the bridge\u2019s substantial presence with its paper-inspired thinness.<\/p>\n

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all images by \u00a9Biosphere unless stated otherwise<\/p>\n

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FAR Workshop\u2019s elevated steel path curves like a mountain ridge<\/h2>\n

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To minimise the visual impact of this secondary circulation element, FAR Workshop\u2019s design team<\/a><\/strong> constructed the path from slender, high-strength threaded steel bars, used consistently for the support, treads, and handrail. This single-material approach maintains the clarity of the overall form. The bridge spans 15.825 meters. Given the complexity of its curved geometry, the construction team produced a full positioning frame based on sectional drawings. The bridge was fabricated from multiple steel plates, each with a distinct curvature, manually bent and adjusted using a press machine. These components were then spatially positioned within the frame and welded into a single continuous structure, followed by installation of the steel-bar pathway.<\/p>\n

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The project explores the spatial experience generated by an extreme structural gesture, folding a thin \u2018sheet\u2019 into a substantial architectural volume and introducing a narrow path across it. The contrast between mass and lightness defines the bridge\u2019s visual identity and shapes the way users perceive and inhabit the structure.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Folio Bridge takes its concept from the fold of an A4 sheet<\/p>\n

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the design studies how a single crease can create structural strength<\/p>\n

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a thin, paper-like form becomes a load-bearing span<\/p>\n

\t<\/p>\n

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\t\t\"far-workshop-folio-bridge-huzhou-china-folded-paper-sheet-designboom-1800-2\"<\/p>\n

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three construction curves and one control point define the bridge geometry<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

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the main structure is treated as a landscape element rather than a walkway<\/p>\n

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a narrow elevated path follows the curve like a mountain ridge<\/p>\n

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a single-material strategy preserves visual clarity<\/p>\n

\t<\/p>\n

\n

\t\t\"far-workshop-folio-bridge-huzhou-china-folded-paper-sheet-designboom-1800-3\"<\/p>\n

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the design transforms a folded \u2018sheet\u2019 into a substantial architectural volume<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

\t\t<\/p>\n

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the walkway contrasts with the thin, folded form beneath it<\/p>\n

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threaded steel bars form the support, steps, and handrail of the path<\/p>\n

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mass and lightness are juxtaposed through form and material<\/p>\n

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project info:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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name:<\/strong> Folio Bridge
\narchitect: <\/strong> Far Workshop<\/a>
\nlocation:<\/strong> Huzhou, China<\/p>\n

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lead architects:<\/strong> Mangyuan Wang
\ndesign team:<\/strong> Mangyuan Wang, Yang Yang, Rui Li
\nstructure designer:<\/strong> Zhun Zhang, Chongchong Zhang, Xiaojie Hu
\nproject planning:<\/strong> urbaneer
\ndesign manager:<\/strong> ConCom<\/p>\n

photographer:<\/strong> Biosphere<\/p>\n

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designboom has received this project from our\u00a0<\/i>DIY submissions<\/i><\/a>\u00a0feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers\u00a0<\/i>here.<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom<\/i><\/p>\n

The post paper folding informs folio bridge’s steel span over water path in china<\/a> appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Folio Bridge explores structural potential through paper crease   FAR […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3888,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3886"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3886"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3886\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3899,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3886\/revisions\/3899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3888"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.macdolphins.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}