Kengo Kuma Rebuilds a Gently Arched Timber Bridge that was Destroyed in Japan Flood | Kusugibashi Bridge

After getting destroyed by the Western Japan Flood in July 2018, the resurrection of the Kusugibashi Bridge was laid in the hands of acclaimed architecture studio Kengo Kuma and Associates. Located in Osogoe, Shuto Town, Iwakuni City, the Kusugibashi Bridge has been now rebuilt into a wooden bridge that will become a new symbol for the community. Know more about the bridge on SURFACES REPORTER (SR).

The Kusugibashi Bridge has been now rebuilt into a wooden bridge that will become a new symbol for the community.

An amalgamation of carpentry expertise and modern computational design technology form the backbone of the Kusugibashi Bridge. The team decided to build the bridge on reinforced concrete (RC) frame to lessen the possibility of any recurrent destruction. For this, the frame had been enhanced by 105 square cypress balustrades that mimic the contour of the surrounding mountain range. Each balustrade forms a curvaceous path that embraces the road gently ahead. To give the bridge a known nostalgic appeal, the team used the most common sized components used in local timber construction.

An amalgamation of carpentry expertise and modern computational design technology form the backbone of the Kusugibashi Bridge.

The Kusugibashi Bridge showcases the subtleness and elegance of the material through conventional civil engineering constructions. At both ends of the bridge is a Dassai brewery and store that sells Dassai, a Japanese sake produced by the famous Asahi-Shuzo brewery that donated the wood for the bridge’s construction.

The team decided to build the bridge on reinforced concrete (RC) frame to lessen the possibility of any recurrent destruction.

Project details

Location: Yamaguchi, Japan

Architect: Kengo Kuma and Associates

Team: Minoru Yokoo, Shun Horiki, Toshiro Ota, Rikuro Sakaushi, Hossam Elbrrashi and Tomohiro Matsunaga

Construction: Nichiei Kogyo and Yuri Kensetsu Kogyo

Cooperation: OAKplus

Photographs: Katsumasa Tanaka; Courtesy: Kengo Kuma and Associates

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