Bridge Pavilion overcomes
troubles of water
This article first appeared in the Spring 2008 issue
Zaha Hadid’s ambitious vision will soon be a finished structure on the Zaragoza Expo 2008 site
As the central theme of the International Exposition to be hosted by Zaragoza from 14 June to 14 September 2008 is “Water and Sustainable Development,” it is fitting that one of its most emblematic structures spans the River Ebro, the waterway that flows through the city.
Construction work on the Bridge Pavilion began in October 2008 Designed by British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the Bridge Pavilion is innovative and ambitious. Conceived in the shape of a gladiolus, or “sword lily”, the bridge cuts a delicate arch over the river. “It is, without a doubt, a fundamental contribution for both the International Exposition and Zaragoza city for its architectural imprint,” the Expo organisers say.
The bridge, measuring 260m long and 30m wide, is one of the main entrances to the International Exposition and links the Intermodal Station to the Expo site. It combines the use of a pedestrian bridge and a venue for the exhibition “Water, a Unique Resource”. The exhibition is being designed by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.
Since its conception, the Bridge Pavilion has posed engineering challenges. Design consultants Ove Arup assisted in realising Zaha Hadid’s architectural vision. One obstacle they confronted was the scale of the River Ebro. This meant that the piles supporting the bridge had to reach great depths. A hi-tech method that had never been used in Spain before, called the Osterberg Cell (O-cell) was used to check the bridge foundations.
The most significant construction phase was finished in February 2008. Part of the structure was built on one of the two banks of the river and then the 220 tonnes of material had to be shifted 125 metres to reach its permanent location. The shifting procedure began at the end of October and finished in February 2007.
On average, 200 workers per day have assisted in varied jobs to construct the pavilion. Work is continuing inside and outside the bridge to ensure the pavilion is ready in time for the Expo.
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