The inhabitable bridge in Tokyo

The aim of this "Living Bridge", is to present a new type of nonlinear algorithmic architecture by, paradoxically, a fully functional bridge, located in Tokyo, Japan.

The project derives from an investigation of nonlinear design, developed by Dave Eaton, Geoffrey Klein and Michael Wetmore from the workshop of Complex Phenomena taught by Cecil Balmond and Roland Snooks, at the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania.

The place that the creators of the project chose for this structure is integrated with the residential districts of Ginza and Tsukishima. Taking advantage of the flows of the two districts, and through the  algorithmical generation of spatial turbulence structures, it was possible to create this design. 

The design process for the bridge involved three stages. The first identified the movement patterns of people and vehicles in the city, considered as systems of interlaced flows, to be later modeled as a vector field. 

In the second stage the design was configured based of the vector field, creating pedestrian and bicycle walkways, and vehicle access routes. 

Finally, the third stage, introduced elements of self-organization that change the shape and connectivity depending on the turbulence field. 

Thus, the project components at the same time create, channel and include the interaction of circulation and programs to inhabit the bridge, resulting in a dynamic space that connects and activates the riverban.