Project Name
Infinite Bridge
Location
Aarhus
Denmark
Architecture Practice
Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter
Completed
2015
Detailed Information
Project NameInfinite BridgeLocation
Aarhus
Denmark
Architecture PracticeGjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter
Completed2015

This past June, a three-kilometer coastline was transformed into a beautiful outdoor gallery for the fourth biannual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition (est. 2009) in the city of Aarhus, on the east coast of Denmark. The 56 sculptures by artists from 24 different countries attracted around half a million visitors, nearly all of whom walked in circles along the Infinite Bridge — an intriguing, round architectural installation by Danish studio Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter. This never-ending promenade of 60 identical wooden parts, placed on steel pillars fixed nearly two meters into the sea floor, offered visitors a new and very different view of the landscape.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © Aarhus I Billeder.

Photo © DANISH TM.

Photo © DANISH TM.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Peter Hastrup Jensen.

Photo © Peter Hastrup Jensen.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Photo © Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter.

Although this unique boardwalk seems to eventually take you nowhere, it nevertheless creates an intellectual overpass that links you to the surroundings and connects you to other people walking past you or coming towards you. ''Walking on the bridge you experience the changing landscape and at the same time you enter a space of social interaction with other people experiencing the same panorama,'' as Johan Gjøde of the studio that designed the piece says. In an interesting and unexpected way, the Infinite Bridge also created a link between the present and the history of the specific site, as it reconnected the beach to a long forgotten viewpoint from the sea as the studio's Niels Povlsgaard remarks: ''The bridge touches the landing dock of a previous pier where people used to arrive in steamboats from the city to relax and enjoy themselves.'' If one looks from that point in the sea towards the shore, there is a clear vision of the historic Varna Pavilion with its terraces, restaurant and dancehall that sit on the hillside above the beach and was meant to be viewed from the landing dock of the pier that no longer exists. ''The Infinite Bridge reestablished this historic connection.'' added Niels.

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Photo © danskebilleder.dk

Standing on the realm of art and architecture, this usable art piece is at the same time a self –renouncing utility. ''Actually, it is nature, the city’s skyline, the harbor and the relationship to the water that is the true art piece,'' says Johan.

{YatzerTip} The Infinite Bridge was taken down on July 5th, after the end of the exhibition. However, due to its huge popularity, the town architect of Aarhus, Stephen Willacy, would like to see a permanent version of the bridge built at the same location leading to one of the local newspapers starting a crowd-funding scheme to support the project.

The Never-Ending Promenade of the Infinite Bridge by Gjøde & Povlsgaard Arkitekter

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