The Striatus 3D concrete printed arched bridge project is being developed by the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), in collaboration with building materials giant Holcim and incremental3D, a specialist in additive manufacturing with concrete.
The partners say the project establishes a new language for concrete, combining traditional masonry with advanced technologies. The bridge is due to be opened soon at the Giardini della Marinaressa in Venice,
They add that the new technology achieves strength through geometry, and the Striatus bridge stands solely through compression without reinforcement. It uses advanced technologies, from computational design and engineering to robotic manufacturing, in addition to traditional master builders’ techniques.
The project partners state: "Striatus was designed to place material only where needed, significantly reducing its environmental footprint. With no reinforcement and using dry assembly without binders, it can be repurposed repeatedly."
They add that Striatus opens up new possibilities with concrete in a design that is structurally informed, fabrication-aware and ecologically responsible. "Material is precisely placed to build more with less," they claim.
The Striatus bridge is being built for the “Time Space Existence” exhibition, hosted by the European Cultural Centre (ECC) during the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021 that runs from 22 May to 21 November.
