Botanical Gardens Crossing
FLUID TIED-ARCH EXOSKELETON BRIDGE
Team Members Juan Gie & Qingbo Sun
RMIT University
Although situated within the Royal Botanic Gardens, the two sides of the lake possess distinctly different spatial characters.
The western shoreline is connected to areas of higher visitor activity, cafés, and public gathering spaces, creating a lively and social atmosphere. The opposite shoreline is more immersed in vegetation and natural landscapes, offering a quieter and more reflective experience.
This contrast became the primary reason for selecting the site. Rather than simply providing a crossing, the proposed bridge mediates between these two environments, creating a gradual transition from the energetic public realm to the calm natural landscape.
Design Concept
Where two shorelines meet across one lake, each carrying a completely different spatial character, the bridge becomes the moment of transition between them.
The design takes its logic from the site itself. The branching of the garden’s trees, the asymmetry of the two edges, the fluid quality of a landscape that rewards patience over pace. These are not references applied to the form. They are the structural and spatial decisions the project kept returning to throughout its development.
The crossing is designed as a journey rather than a path. The frame creates enclosure without closing you in, moving between compression and openness as you cross. The gardens are never given all at once. The bridge positions you, orients you, and points you toward what comes next.
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