Flowing red ribbon bridge completed in China

A red undulating bridge designed by Dutch firm Next Architects has been completed in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province in south-central China.

Known as the Lucky Knot, the 185m long, 24m tall bridge offers a variety of routes across the Dragon King Harbour River to Changsha’s rapidly developing New Lake District.

The bridge connects multiple levels at different heights, such as the river banks, the road, the park as well as the interconnections between them. It also offers views of the river, Meixi Lake, Changsha and the surrounding mountain ranges.

The Lucky Knot can also display an LED lightshow, aiming to become an attraction in the "light route that traces the path of the Dragon King Harbour River".

John van de Water, partner in Next Architects Beijing, said: "The shape of the Lucky Knot was inspired by the principle of the Mobius ring, as well as by the Chinese knotting art. In the ancient decorative Chinese folk art the knot symbolises luck and prosperity. The final shape of the bridge is the result of literally and metaphorically knotting all these routes together."

The bridge was designed by Next’s Dutch and Chinese office, which Next said combined the Dutch team’s expertise in infrastructure and water management and the Chinese team’s perseverance and knowledge of the local context.

Jiang Xiaofei, partner in Next Architects Beijing, said: "The Lucky Knot is more than a bridge and a connection between two river banks. Its success lays in bringing cultures together, and in the fusion of history, technology, art, innovation, architecture and spectacle."

Images by Julien Lanoo via Next Architects