Design of a funicular concrete bridge with knitted formwork

Abstract

This paper presents the design, engineering and digital fabrication strategies for a circular pedestrian bridge to be built as part of “De Groene Boog” development of the A16 highway north of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. The bridge is designed as a lightweight funicular unreinforced concrete gridshell with openings based on the principle of a three-hinged arch extrapolated to 3D geometry. In its realisation, it demonstrates a model of circular construction using recent material developments (such as recycled concrete) and an efficient flexible formwork system using knitted textiles. The presented design and fabrication process is developed collaboratively by the Block Research Group at ETH Zurich and De Groene Boog. The structure is commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat).