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Architecture

The revolving sail bridge that looks like a dragonfly Transformer

By Rich Haridy
August 07, 2017
The revolving sail bridge that looks like a dragonfly Transformer
This floating movable bridge commissioned by the Ordos government in Mongolia
This floating movable bridge commissioned by the Ordos government in Mongolia
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This structure has enough engineering detail to be practically built, but at what cost?
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This structure has enough engineering detail to be practically built, but at what cost?
Margot Krasojević employs experimental forms in her designs
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Margot Krasojević employs experimental forms in her designs
More angles on the structure
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More angles on the structure 
The ultimate cost to build this project is unknown
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The ultimate cost to build this project is unknown
Plans for the Revolving Sail Bridge
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Plans for the Revolving Sail Bridge
The main sail can be lowered to act as a canopy when the bridge is in place
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The main sail can be lowered to act as a canopy when the bridge is in place
Margot Krasojević has worked in the past with Zaha Hadid Architects
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Margot Krasojević has worked in the past with Zaha Hadid Architects 
This impressively ambitious structure was commissioned by the Ordos government
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This impressively ambitious structure was commissioned by the Ordos government
The structure sits atop a floating foundation that can be moored using anchors
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The structure sits atop a floating foundation that can be moored using anchors 
This floating movable bridge commissioned by the Ordos government in Mongolia
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This floating movable bridge commissioned by the Ordos government in Mongolia
There are three expanding walkways
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There are three expanding walkways
The bridge can be towed, sailed or motored into different locations along the Wulanmulun River
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The bridge can be towed, sailed or motored into different locations along the Wulanmulun River
The structure's walkways are lined with solar panels
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The structure's walkways are lined with solar panels
This is one of many compelling designs from this impressive architect
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This is one of many compelling designs from this impressive architect 
Margot Krasojević has studios in London and Beijing
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Margot Krasojević has studios in London and Beijing
Margot Krasojević started her own research design studio in 2000
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Margot Krasojević started her own research design studio in 2000
Despite their experimental nature, we may see some of Margot Krasojević's projects becoming reality in the future
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Despite their experimental nature, we may see some of Margot Krasojević's projects becoming reality in the future
This is the floating Hydroelectric Waterfall Prison
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This is the floating Hydroelectric Waterfall Prison
The concept is designed to generate electricity for a town while functioning as a prison
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The concept is designed to generate electricity for a town while functioning as a prison
The prison concept was conceived in 2013
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The prison concept was conceived in 2013
The prison is estimated to produced 3.2 megawatts of electricity
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The prison is estimated to produced 3.2 megawatts of electricity
The prison is self-sufficient and can power 2,000 homes
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The prison is self-sufficient and can power 2,000 homes
The bar in Paris that sits over a spillway
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The bar in Paris that sits over a spillway
As the city goes through flooding events the bar sits above and watches
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As the city goes through flooding events the bar sits above and watches
The bar dynamically engages with the environment it is built into
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The bar dynamically engages with the environment it is built into
The Jetway Hotel
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The Jetway Hotel
This hotel rolls up to a private jet on the tarmac
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This hotel rolls up to a private jet on the tarmac
The rooms are designed to mimic the natural heat has effect of the tarmac
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The rooms are designed to mimic the natural heat has effect of the tarmac
No need to leave the tarmac for short trips or refuel situations
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No need to leave the tarmac for short trips or refuel situations
The Jetway Hotel
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The Jetway Hotel
View gallery - 30 images

Margot Krasojević's architectural designs are undeniably experimental and push the boundaries of feasibility, but with engineering technology rapidly evolving, they are increasingly realizable. Her latest piece is an incredible, mobile bridge commissioned by the Ordos government in Mongolia as a prospective crossing for the Wulanmulun River.

Krasojević's practice often veers into deeply academic territory, proposing conceptual forms with a deeply theoretical foundation. An incredibly compelling piece from 2013 proposed an offshore floating Hydroelectric Waterfall Prison. This structure, with a frightfully dystopian aesthetic, asked the question – what if a prison could actually create power, rather than just consume it?

The most recent project from this impressively ambitious designer presents us with a mobile floating bridge that can fold up and relocate to a new position, either by sailing or being towed.

This is one of many compelling designs from this impressive architect
This is one of many compelling designs from this impressive architect 

The structure comprises three expanding walkways and a carbon fiber triple sail. The sail can be lowered and function as a canopy when the bridge is in use, while solar panels line the walkways generating electricity for the structure and its motors.

This specific design has been commissioned by the Ordos government in Inner Mongolia, so it does have a degree of site-specific detail to its planning. The accuracy of the plans certainly suggest it could be built, but realistically it is hard to see it actually being constructed any time soon.

Margot Krasojević has studios in London and Beijing
Margot Krasojević has studios in London and Beijing

Krasojević's radical designs may not easily reveal their deeply philosophical underpinnings, but these multi-functional, geometric structures are incredible departures from the normal architectural concepts out there. From her Jetway Hotel that can roll up to a private jet on the tarmac, to the Parisian bar that hovers over a water spillway on the banks of the Seine, these are mind-bending designs that dynamically interact with their environments.

Take a look through the gallery to check out this new design and some of Krasojević's previous work.

Source: Margot Krasojević Architecture via v2com

View gallery - 30 images

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ArchitectureBridgeExperimentalArchitects
5 comments
Rich Haridy
Rich Haridy
Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade while also acting as film critic for several radio broadcasters and podcasts. His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. Rich completed his Masters degree in the Arts back in 2013 before joining New Atlas in 2016.

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5 comments
ei3io
These are beautiful fantasies great for movies but structurally they are very difficult if not practically impossible.
TomWatson
Wow. I am very envious of this artist. What a neat mind. I tend to get Out-There in my head and try to show it in my movie making, but this is at a level that I can only admire. I don't have any idea structurally, as to whether it is feasible, but it sure looks cool. Beautiful concept.
Vernon Miles Kerr
In no picture did the article show this structure doing what bridges do, connecting one point of land with another. The complexity of the design raises the question, "What happen to Frank Lloyd Wright's maxim, 'Form follows function' ?"
Nik
Engineering has a motto; 'KISS' = Keep It Simple, ...Stupid! I think this designer needs to adhere to it, come back to ground level, and stop the fantasies.
Vernon Miles Kerr
@Nik. I agree. KISS and Form-follows-function are time tested precepts. This person's work has a degree of weird beauty and creativity but I think it would be more appropriate for set-pieces in Sci-Fi flicks. Having travelled in China and having experienced a lot of their weird, whimsical and quirky modern architecture, I can see how the Chinese government would be attracted to this architect's designs.