Bridge of Nine Terraces by Scenic Architecture Office

The Bridge of Nine Terraces is a covered pedestrian bridge located in the Horticultural Expo Village on the northern slope of Xian Mountain, within Nanjing’s 11th Horticultural Expo Park. Designed by Scenic Architecture Office, this iconic structure connects the Expo Village with the Jumbo Museum, offering visitors an engaging walking experience across the Qixiang River. The bridge acts as both a functional circulation path and a landmark, evoking the comforting feeling of “going home” for visitors.

Context and Site

The northern slope of Xian Mountain creates a terrain that is high in the south and low in the north, forming a natural valley. The Qixiang River runs along the northern foot of the mountain, with variable widths between 18 and 30 meters due to seasonal water level changes. The surrounding landscape offers panoramic views of Baohua Mountain, Zhong Mountain, and the Yangshan Mine Pit, allowing the bridge to blend seamlessly with its natural and cultural surroundings.

Design Concept

The design draws inspiration from traditional covered bridges, known globally for combining structural integrity with multifunctional space. The bridge reinterprets the folded plate roof system, previously explored in Scenic Architecture Office projects, to harmonize with Jiangnan-style village houses while spanning 37.8 meters with minimal structural thickness.

The Bridge of Nine Terraces is divided into nine staggered terraces, each measuring 8m × 4.2m. The terraces are suspended from the double-sloped folded plate truss roof, creating a series of permeable, interconnected spaces. Bamboo curtains filter light, while wooden eaves provide shading, enhancing the pedestrian experience.

Structural Innovation

The bridge uses four inclined steel trusses to form triangular section spatial trusses, with titanium zinc panels on the upper surface and wood slats underneath. The folded plate design allows a 1.6m sagittal height while supporting the suspended terraces with minimal visual obstruction.

Vertical loads from the terraces are channeled through the folded plate truss arch to U-shaped concrete shear walls at each bridgehead. These walls, featuring coarse-grained pebble aggregate and traditional window and door openings, give the bridge a rustic, home-like feeling. Extending the double-pitched roof from the bridgehead balances structural forces while creating “half-house” spaces that lead into the covered bridge.

Visitor Experience

Walking across the bridge, visitors experience a blend of architecture, landscape, and leisure. The staggered terraces encourage pauses, offering multiple perspectives of the river valley, the mountains, and the village. The combination of hanging terraces, bamboo curtains, and wooden eaves creates a space that is both functional and meditative, evoking a sense of homecoming and deep connection to the surrounding nature.

All Photographs are works of Shan Liang,