plein06 Urban Landscapes wins first prize International Design Awards in Los Angeles

A Dutch-Lithuanian design team led by Rotterdam-based plein06 urban landscapes has come up with the bridge design Bridging Nature in Kaunas, won first prize in the bridge category at the International Design Awards (IDA) in Los Angeles.

Bridging Nature is located in a sensitive spot on the edge of the historic city center of Kaunas, exactly where the Lithuanian rivers Neris and Memel meet. The natural values and cultural-historical panorama of Kaunas' Old Town are enhanced in the design proposal by an elegant bridge design. This provides an asymmetrical profile that allows for a green shared-space esplanade with space to stay and enjoy the view of the medieval city.

The stepped supports enhance the ecology around the water level and fold open above the water into a pleasant and comfortable multifunctional outdoor space where people can stay. This space also provides a place for events and exhibitions when Kaunas is European Capital of Culture in 2022.

Bridging Nature is a fine example of Dutch-Lithuanian engineering art in which the latest techniques in heat, energy, circularity and nature inclusiveness are integrally designed. For example, rainwater that collects on the bridge is used in the irrigation system and heat from the asphalt is stored in the summer and used to heat the road surface in the winter. In addition, the entire bridge is designed to be modular and demountable.

Bridging Nature is a joint submission with  Witteveen + Bos, Panevėžio Keliai and Terra Firma LT for an international design competition (December 2017) launched by Kaunas Architectural and Urban Renewal Council.

Founded in 2007 in Los Angeles, the International Design Awards (IDA) are presented annually with the goal of discovering upcoming and breakthrough talent within the design fields of architecture, interior design, product design, graphic design and fashion.