Ponte Academia, Venice Italy

The competition brief for Venice's Ponte Academia bridge asked for a new structure to replace a temporary wooden bridge and house gallery spaces to host exhibits on the history of Venice. The design references the construction system of historic venetian stone tracery. We took this module system as a launching point, but translated it into a 3-D occupied structure spanning the canal and containing the gallery spaces. 7 standard modules are derived out of two basic types. Modules are built from variant molds, which have parts that can be switched out to allow the basic unit to fit into different connection conditions. The horizontal modules have flat and sloped variations, allowing for vertical movement. The form of the modules is designed to create horizontal surfaces for seating at the bridge and display elements within the gallery. The final effect is a geometrical tracery of open structure that floats above and is reflected by the canal. Download PDF