School of Architecture

Faculty of Architecture and Planning

FOOTBRIDGE: A Da Vinci Self Supporting Bridge

Footbridges_2023

FOOTBRIDGE: A Da Vinci Self Supporting Bridge

Site: Blue Forest in Myers Point, Nova Scotia.

This Free Labs project will involve the design, manufacture and assembly of two sizes of these self supporting bridges as originally designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. The design and build of the two bridges will roughly correspond with week one and week two of the Free Labs schedule.

Project outcome:
1. The design and building of a self supporting footbridge spanning up to 10 feet.

Students working in small groups (3-4 students), will construct a small footbridge replacing an old path footbridge traversing a small waterway.

2. The design and building of a self supporting footbridge spanning more than 20 feet.

Students working in a large group will construct a larger footbridge connecting a path that traverses a larger tidal waterway between the mainland and an island.

Students and instructors will camp on site while building these foot bridges.

Project coordinator and instructor: Glen Hougan - Associate Professor, Design, NSCAD University.

Site and technical instructor: Wouter Poulder - Blue Forest construction manager.