The Silk Bridge: Revitalizing Hangzhou's Waterfront Public Space

By TJAD Original Design Studio – 2023

Located along the scenic south bank of the Qiantang River, the Silk Bridge is a striking piece of pedestrian infrastructure that embodies innovation, elegance, and urban connectivity. Designed by TJAD Original Design Studio, this architectural landmark is a pivotal element in the 12-kilometer waterfront public space renovation project in Binjiang District, Hangzhou, transforming a once fragmented riverside into a continuous, immersive public experience.

Reconnecting the City: From Breakpoint to Bridge

The Silk Bridge was conceived to address a major urban challenge: a disconnection in the waterfront due to the Xiaoshan Shiplock, which forced pedestrians and vehicles to share a congested, narrow path. By introducing a dedicated pedestrian bridge, the project restored the continuity of the riverside sports track, turning what was once a detour into a direct, scenic route along the Qiantang River.

The result is not only a functional crossing but a vibrant public space that invites movement, interaction, and contemplation. The Silk Bridge acts as a linking thread, weaving together the urban fabric and enhancing the walkability and accessibility of Hangzhou’s riverfront.

Architectural Design: Structure, Symbolism, and Space

TJAD’s design approach blends technical precision with poetic gesture. The bridge's dual pathways symbolize a dialogue between past and future: one side faces the shiplock, paying homage to the city's industrial history, while the other opens toward the expansive river, evoking a vision of progress and openness. These two paths converge in the middle of the bridge, forming a raised truss structure that immerses pedestrians in a unique spatial experience.

Visitors can pause at the center to enjoy panoramic views through grille-like floor panels, offering glimpses of flowing water and passing vessels. This thoughtful integration of structure and scenery makes the Silk Bridge not just a crossing, but a destination.

Engineering Feat: Fluid Form and Functional Strength

Collaborating closely with structural engineers, the architectural team developed a form where structural height and member dimensions evolve fluidly with load requirements. The bridge truss starts at 3.5 meters high and 12 meters wide, gently rising to 8 meters in height and narrowing to 6 meters at its midpoint—creating a dynamic, wave-like silhouette that echoes the river’s own rhythm.

With a span of 180 meters, the Silk Bridge ranks among the longest pedestrian bridges in China. Its high vanadium-sealed cables, each 140mm in diameter, represent the largest cable diameter and length ever used in a domestic pedestrian bridge project, reinforcing both its technical ambition and national significance.

Construction Innovation: Complex Challenges, Creative Solutions

Constructing the Silk Bridge presented a logistical challenge due to the need to maintain navigability of the waterway during installation. The bridge was built in three sections: the central span was temporarily supported and slid into place over the river, while the remaining sections were assembled using an external unbonded prestressed technique along the riverbanks.

This innovative construction method was awarded as a top-rated provincial technique, and is the only recognized method of its kind in Hangzhou’s Binjiang District.

Public Space as Civic Fabric

Beyond its technical achievements, the Silk Bridge is a celebration of public life. At each end, expansive stair plazas invite gatherings, leisure, and social interaction, reinforcing the bridge's role not just as infrastructure, but as civic architecture. It becomes a new cultural landmark—where everyday routines meet exceptional design.