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Minimal impact on the surrounding environment.
As the name suggests,Cycling Through The TreesIt's a raised walkway that allows cyclists to admire the vast green expanse of the forest from a height of 10 meters. This was also one of the projects in the Infrastructure of the Year category of the 2020 Dezeen Awards.
The circular path is 30 meters wide and nearly 700 meters long, gradually ascending a gentle slope of 10 meters before descending. This forest is located within the Pijnven nature reserve, its structure forming a closed circle with a diameter of 100 meters.
With the aim of becoming an ideal experience for cyclists, both professional and amateur, and ensuring environmental sustainability, the landscape design firm BuroLandschap and De Gregorio & Partners created a bridge that minimizes its impact on the surrounding environment.
Specifically,Cycling Through The TreesIt was constructed using only a single crane mounted at the center of the circle. The steel structure was built with foundations and piles without the need for concrete. The floor and supports of the structure are made from weathered steel, which has an orange-brown color similar to the pine trunks in the forest.
“Brown is the color of the earth and also the most common color in nature, always blending well with the environment. The most important thing for us is to build structures with the lowest possible impact on the environment and nature. This is the starting point,” explains Pieter Daenen, founder of BuroLandschap.
A small number of trees were cut down and used to create rest stops near tourist attractions, but care was taken to ensure that the natural environment was not lost or damaged.
"The trees here are obviously very important; cycling across would be pointless if the trees were damaged or destroyed after construction. But with a design that's 100 meters in diameter and 10 meters high, preserving them is not easy at all."
"The utility poles are like tree trunks; you can only notice them when you get quite close, and from a distance of 100 meters, you'd have a hard time spotting them."
Providing a magical experience for tourists.
The uniqueness of the 360 bridge.oThis has become a wonderful experience for those cycling through the nature reserve near the town of Hechtel-Eksel.
The bridge's unique feature is its spiral shape; the experience of ascending from one level to the next is truly magical. Visitors feel like they're reliving their childhood. You might even see tourists cycling leisurely around it a few times. Moreover, the 600-meter stretch is quite pleasant, even for those in less than ideal physical condition.
The act of creating a roadCycling Through The TreesThis will not only provide a novel experience for users but is also expected to attract tourists to explore the Bosland forest and the forests near Hechtel-Eksel, while boosting the local economy.
“These tourists also help boost the local economy. The government encourages this and believes that forests can generate added economic value, thereby providing more support for forest conservation,” Daenen emphasized.
