C Ú C U T A B R I D G E

The archaic concept of using the entire culm in a ten-

sile element and combine it with a arch inspired me to
design a footbridge as a sculpture to contrast with a
modern concrete nightmare: The fast growing town of
Cucuta at the Venezuelan border had just finished a
circular road distribution and needed a walkway to
cross the 4 lanes. The natural material and its tradi-
tional lay out was combined with a modern industrial JOERG STAMM joerg@joergstamm.com
membrane. The towers had to withstand considerable
wind forces on the sail, which were induced by a steel
device on top and anchored to the footing by steel
cables. The challenge was met by columns with pack
of 6 packs which formed a pyramid over 4 foundations
for each tower. The tension elements are 25 meter
long sistered culms with steel rebar in 3 grouted inter-
nodes each.

Membrane constructions have to take in mind the

wind force. The sometimes enormous tents can easily
convert to sails and develop threatening forces. To
avoid this threat, the membrane is tensioned into op-
posing curves to create an “anticlastic” surface. The
membrane is a fiberglass reinforces PVC sheet, coated
with Teflon to avoid dust. This technology developed
by Frei Otto is still quite new and exclusive with few
professional suppliers, therefore the roof was more
expensive than the bridge.

The arch is composed by 6 lines of guadua, stabilized

by tension beams. The first “Cables” are actually col-
umns under compression, forming a pyramidal tower
which in reality takes more loads from the membrane
than from the floor. Most of the load of the bridge is
assumed by the arches.

2 3 4

5 6 7

Photos
1 From a distance
2 Bridge profile
3 Looking across pedestrian way
4 Membrane connection detail
5 Sinuous lines of membrane canopy
6 The trusse sandwich of archs and beams
7 Across motorway
8 Bridge skeleton before membrane

Client Cúcuta City

8 Designer Joerg Stamm
Year 2008