In the Bridge Space Innovation Design Competition hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, UNDERBRIDGE STATION · FLOATING TANGERINE by milanesi|paiusco was selected among nearly 650 entries and received the Excellence Award. The project focuses on the underbridge as an overlooked urban grey space with latent public potential.
The site lies beneath Zhijiang Bridge in Xihu District, Hangzhou, at the intersection of major expressways. Within a 20-minute walking radius are residential and office districts with strong demand for public space. However, limited green development and tidal influence reduce its usability.
The design draws from local fishing and shipbuilding history, introducing a saturated orange bridge as the central element. It forms a landmark while responding to surrounding ruins, parks, and bridge structure, acting as a connector across fragmented urban conditions.
The orange bridge creates a two-level structure. The ground level hosts sports, education, and children’s programs. The upper level connects parking areas to the riverside, introducing café, fishing, and boating uses. Transparency and circulation allow continuous community use.
The site is organized into six zones including sports, parent-child space, open plaza, dining, and community services. A flexible zone near the heritage park supports markets, open-air cinema, and camping. The former skating and industrial areas are reactivated through new public programs.
Wind generated by traffic, bridge form, and river conditions is harnessed through a vertical-axis turbine system, reducing lighting energy use by about 25%. Steel structure prioritizes recycled materials, while paving is partially retained and combined with reclaimed timber.
