"A bridge is not just a bridge, it is a landscape, an architecture, an installation, a sculpture, and a place where people can stay, wander, and meditate freely," said Wei-Li Liao, architect of AMBi Studio. 

This interesting bridge project, which architect Wei-Li Liao calls "Crouching Dragon", combines the second phase development of the South Branch of the Palace Museum and the Suantou Sugar-Factory Cultural Park on the north side. 

It is designed as a pedestrian bridge that is integrated with the landscape and aims to become a future museum. A new gateway to development.

The bridge represents Tsou's aboriginal people delivering their reverence to the nature, and interprets into the interdependent relationship among pedestrians, bridge and surrounding natural environment. The bridge compounds the characteristic of an architecture, a piece of landscape, an installation and a sculpture. 

Wandering on the bridge as one can experience the bridge dialogues with mountains, water, constructions, wooden platforms, and water reserving island, creating an alluring space where all sections can rest, stay, overlook, meditate, and play.

The north side of the bridge currently serves as a venue for events, connecting to the open-air stage and functioning as a platform for markets and performing activities. In order to adapt climate conditions of southern Taiwan in summer, the covered bridge provides a pleasant walking experience where one can pass through without suffering the sun, wind and rain. 

For sustainability purpose, the earthwork excavated from the bridge foundation is used as the material for undulating terrain of the landscape design.

The completion of the project redefines the image of the museum main entrance on the north side, enhance tourist service functions; on the other hand, which will integrate the surrounding landscape, and combine local terrain with indigenous culture to form a brand-new landscape for museum. 

This project will strengthen the attractiveness and accessibility of Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum and positively influence the socuo-cultural development.

Project facts

Project name: Crouching Dragon Pedestrian Bridge

Architects: AMBi Studio

Project team: AMBi Studio

Location: Chiayi County, Taiwan

Design period: 2019/September-2020/September

Construction period: 2020 /December-2023/December

Architect/ Designer: Wei-Li Liao

General contractor: Yili Construction Co., Ltd.

Building system: Reinforced Concrete

All Photographs © Kuomin Lee.

All images courtesy of Wei-Li Liao and AMBi Studio.

> via AMBi Studio

AMBi Studio bridge dragon dragon architecture Wei-Li Liao