The world’s first 3D-printed pedestrian bridge, designed by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), has been completed in Madrid’s Castilla-La Mancha Park in Alcobendas. The 12-meter-long structure, made of micro-reinforced concrete, was fabricated using a parametric design, which optimized material use and minimized waste. The project, led by Areti Markopoulou and executed by ACCIONA, involved multidisciplinary teams of architects and engineers, with Enrico Dini contributing expertise in large-scale 3D printing.
The first 3D-printed pedestrian bridge has been inaugurated in Madrid’s Castilla-La Mancha Park in Alcobendas, introducing a significant advancement in digital fabrication and construction technology. Designed by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), the structure was completed on December 14 and spans 12 meters in length and 1.75 meters in width. Fabricated from micro-reinforced concrete, the bridge marks a milestone in 3D printing applications in infrastructure.
While similar projects have been proposed, including in the Netherlands, this is the first 3D-printed bridge to be fully constructed and opened to the public. The IAAC developed the project using a parametric design approach, ensuring an optimized material distribution that reduced waste by recycling raw materials during production. The structural system incorporates generative algorithms, allowing for an efficient use of material while maintaining porosity, a feature that deviates from conventional construction techniques.
In an interview with ArchDaily en Español, Areti Markopoulou, Academic Director of IAAC and project lead, discussed a key technical challenge: “The size of the printed piece has been a crucial factor since the maximum dimensions for the piece that we can print with this machine are 2mx2mx2m. This has influenced the strategy and the design.”
The project’s construction was managed by ACCIONA, with input from structural engineers, mechanical engineers, and municipal representatives. Enrico Dini, an innovator in large-scale 3D printing and a collaborator with IAAC, contributed to the development. Commissioned by the City of Alcobendas, the bridge was designed by a team from IAAC, including Areti Markopoulou, Rodrigo Aguirre, Alexander Dubor, and Jayant Khanuja, with fabrication support from D-Shape and Enrico Dini. This achievement demonstrates the potential of 3D printing in urban infrastructure, offering a glimpse into the future of sustainable and efficient construction methods.
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Address: 17 Avenida del Dr. Severo Ochoa, 28100 Alcobendas, Madrid, Spain
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