Zaha Hadid Architects

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

Zaha Hadid Architects

STATUS
Built

SIZE
0 sqft - 1000 sqft

YEAR
2021

LOCATION
Venice, Italy

CATEGORY
Transport + Infrastructure › Bridge

Striatus is an arched masonry footbridge composed of 3D-printed concrete blocks assembled without mortar or reinforcement.

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

The 16 x 12 metre footbridge is the first of its kind, combining traditional techniques of master builders with advanced computational design, engineering and robotic manufacturing technologies.

Exhibited at the Giardini della Marinaressa during the Venice Architecture Biennale 2021, Striatus has been developed by the Block Research Group (BRG) at ETH Zurich and Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), in collaboration with incremental3D (in3D) and made possible by Holcim.

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

Proposing a new language of concrete that is structurally informed, fabrication aware, ecologically responsible and precisely placed to build more with less, Striatus optimises the properties of masonry structures, 3D concrete printing (3DCP) and contemporary design; presenting an alternative to traditional concrete construction.

The name "Striatus" reflects its structural login and fabrication process. Concrete is precisely printed in layers orthogonal to the main structural forces to create a "striated" compression-only structure that requires no mortar or reinforcement.

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge


Using a special concrete ink developed by Holcim, this method of 3D concrete printing combines the principles of traditional vaulted construction with digital concrete fabrication to use material only where it is structurally necessary and eliminate waste.


As the construction does not need mortar, the blocks can be dismantled, and the bridge reassembled at different location.

If the construction is no longer needed, the materials can simply be separated and recycled.

Striatus 3D Printed Bridge
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge
Striatus 3D Printed Bridge

As the construction does not need mortar, the blocks can be dismantled, and the bridge reassembled at different location. If the construction is no longer needed, the materials can simply be separated and recycled.

Zaha Hadid Architects
T +44 20 72535147 F +44 20 72518322
Zaha Hadid Architects
101 Goswell Rd., London EC1V 7EZ, United Kingdom