‘The Bicycle Snake’ is Copenhagen’s new architectonic trademark. It elegantly connects two parts of the city, which is one of the world’s most bike-friendly places. We visited Dissing+Weitling Architecture to hear their thoughts on the iconic construction.
To make a bridge, which is dedicated to cyclists, is not seen often around the world. But Denmark has a certain “bike culture”, which the bridge serves as a tribute to. The orange bridge is strikingly slender and elegant, consisting only of what is absolutely necessary while serving an actual practical purpose: “It’s not trying to be more than it actually is.”
‘The Bicycle Snake’ — completed in 2014 by Dissing+Weitling— meanders 6-7 meters above sea surface with a total length of 230 meters. The bridge is made of steel and the surface has a bright orange colour, which creates a clear visual course for cyclists. It has been awarded the Big Arne Award in 2015, the WAN Transport Award in 2014 and the ‘Raise the Bar’ prize in 2013.
Dissing+Weitling Architecture was formed in Denmark in 1971 to continue the work started by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. They are responsible for some of the world’s most spectacular bridges (from the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Johannesburg to the Shanghai–Chongming connection in China), distinctive international business headquarters as well as new residential areas, historic building renovations and interior and product design. For more about Dissing+Weitling see: www.dw.dk
Jesper B. Henriksen is an industrial designer at Dissing+Weitling. He was interviewed by Kasper Bech Dyg at Dissing+Weitling’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark in September 2014.
Camera: Klaus Elmer
Produced and edited by: Kasper Bech Dyg
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2015
Supported by Nordea-fonden
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