:Zaha Hadid Architects - Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion : arcspace.com

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Zaha Hadid Architects
Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion
Zaragoza, Spain

The building’s envelope plays an essential role in defining its relation to the surrounding environment and atmospheric variations.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

The Zaragoza Bridge Pavilion is an interactive exhibition area focusing on water sustainability, integrating a pedestrian bridge to perform as gateway for the Zaragoza Expo 2008.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

The Bridge Pavilion is organized around 4 main elements, or “pods”, that perform both as structural elements and as spatial enclosures, where each “pod” corresponds to a specific exhibition space.
These pods intersect and brace each other, allowing the weight of the bridge to be distributed across the four trusses instead of a singular main element.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

The body of the building evolves from the extrusion of a diamond-shaped section along a slightly curved path, projected diagonally across the shores of the Ebro River. Its dynamic shape is enveloped by a distinctive shark-scale skin, a permeable membrane that generates an internal microclimate based on the natural airflow. The concrete belly of the articulated volume partially rests on a small island in the middle of the river, reinforcing the hybrid, lifelike nature of its curvilinear volumes.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

Located above the main flood level, the Bridge Pavilion connects with each river bank via a smooth inclined terrain. Each pod is located on the same level, except one which is 1.5 meters above this main level and intersects with its adjacent pods.

All pods are stacked according to precise criteria - aimed at reducing the Bridge Pavilion’s section as much as possible where the span is longer, and enlarging the section where the span is shorter. One long pod spans from the right riverbank to the island, where the other three are grafted into it, spanning from island to left bank.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

This interlocking of the pods has given the design many exciting possibilities. Interiors become complex spaces, where visitors move from pod to pod through small in-between spaces that act as filters - or buffer zones. These zones diffuse the sound and visual experience from one exhibition space to the next, allowing for a clearer understanding of the content within each pod. The identity of each pod remains evident inside the pavilion, almost performing as a three-dimensional orientation device.

Each zone within the building has its own spatial identity. Their nature varies from completely enclosed interior spaces that focus on the exhibition, to open spaces with strong visual connections to the Ebro River and the Expo.

Photo: Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

“We designed an envelope for the Bridge Pavilion that encloses the exhibition spaces yet can be permeated by natural elements. The internal micro-environment varies with the external climate and requires minimal cooling or heating infrastructure. In particular, we considered the local Cierzo wind when designing the skin. A variety of openings convey and direct air into the building’s interior - cooling visitors in the heat of the summer.”
Zaha Hadid

The design merges two traditionally distinct and separate building typologies: the “infrastructure” element (the bridge) and an “architectural” element (the pavilion). With the Bridge Pavilion design, Zaha Hadid Architects has challenged the conventional idea of a bridge being purely engineering.

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
Lower Floor Site Plan

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
Upper Floor Site Plan

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
Longitudinal Section Pod 2 west

Drawing courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
Cross Section

Total floor area: 6,415 square meters
Exhibition surface area: 3,915 square meters
Pedestrian Bridge surface: 2,500 square meters
Length: 270 meters

Completed: 2008

Client: Expoagua Zaragoza 2008
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid with Patrik Schumacher
Project architect: Manuela Gatto (Associate)
Project team:
Fabian Hecker
Matthias Baer
Soohyun Chang
Feng Chen
Atrey Chhaya
Ignacio Choliz
Federico Dunkelberg
Dipal Kothari
Maria Jose Mendoza
José Monfa
Marta Rodriguez
Diego Rosales
Guillermo Ruiz
Lucio Santos
Hala Sheikh
Marcela Spadaro
Anat Stern
Jay Suthadarat
Competition team:
Feng Chen
Atrey Chhaya
Dipal Kotari

Engineers: ARUP Associates

Photographed by Fernando Guerra / FG+SG

Zaha Hadid Architects arcspace features

September 1, 2008