Beijing Released the Design Guideline for the Utilization of Space under Bridge

The Design Guideline for the Utilization of Space under Bridge was released on 22 December 2022 by the Beijing Planning and Natural Resource Committee. It will promote the implementation of Beijing’s new urban master plan and the special plan and actions for urban renewal. This guideline aims to provide a replicable and generalizable method to effectively use the space under bridges.

This guideline focuses on the space under the bridges of urban roads, railways, and highways in Beijing with a headroom height of more than 2.2 meters. It applies to all managers, designers, builders, and citizens concerned with the space under bridges. The design principles of space under bridges should concern aspects including safety, people’s livelihood, adaptation to local conditions, accessibility, diversity, ecology, community participation, and project management. This guideline will promote the utilization of space under bridges, transforming the grey space into new active public space in the city.

Guide the design process of space under bridges, including the classification of space type, assessment of functional requirements, detailed project design, and post-occupancy evaluation.

The classification of space under bridges

The assessment of space under bridges from aspects including safety, scale, accessibility, environment, usage, ownership, and others.

Guide the design of space for different functions. This guideline advises eight kinds of functions that can be designed in the space under bridges, including parking, leisure, sports, landscape, municipal facilities, convenience facilities, and other functions such as parking.

A design example of placing municipal facilities under bridge

Conceptual design of the space under the Tianningsi bridge

Guide the design details of space under bridges, such as the lights, signals, and landscape furniture, encouraging the design that shows the special characteristics of the neighborhood.

Examples of the lighting design and outdoor floor coating

Photos from Beijing Planning and Natural Resource (北京规划自然资源)

From: Beijing Planning and Natural Resource (北京规划自然资源)

Source: <https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/RUNERZXqnjGKw7QImzEtoQ>

Translated and edited by Mengyuan Jia