Viry SA - Construction métalliques

Japan Bridge

In spite of its name, this footbridge steps over the ring road at La Défense, between the Pacific and Kulpa towers, the aim being to free the area from the monopoly of automobile traffic. It was designed by Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa, who wanted to make an explicit statement reminiscent of traditional Japanese bridges while using a contemporary vocabulary. The steel deck is suspended from two arches that have a span of 106 m and join together in their uppermost part; they sit directly on the bearing slabs of the two office towers. Triangular in section, the arches have a triangulated structure composed of solid round plates and rods assembled by spherical knots on which converge strains. Each knot is dissociated into two half-spheres to facilitate assemblage of parts. The suspended footbridge is sheltered by a transparent vault carried by arches that step over the width of the deck from side to side.