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Utrecht bike bridge doubles as roof for a school

The creative bridge-builders at Next Architects have done it again

new bridge in the Netherlands serves as roof of school Next Architects via Inhabitat

In spite of ambitious designs like the undulating Lucky Knot bridge or the bridge that’s also a home for bats, the architects at the Amsterdam and Beijing-based firm Next Architects have yet to go a bridge too far. Their latest span, Utrecht’s Dafne Schippers Bridge, not only offers bike and pedestrian access across the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, but also serves as part of the roof for an elementary school.

The 360-foot bridge runs from the Oog in Al neighborhood across the river where its conventional overpass suddenly snakes atop the school and down a lushly planted artificial hill in Victor Hugo Park. The school’s rooftop will soon be planted with a permaculture garden.

“In one fluid movement, the cycle route, park, and school are brought together to form a cohesive whole of infrastructure, architecture, and landscape,” said Next Architect’s Marijn Schenk.

Via: Inhabitat