Hydro Yugua by Xiyao Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award Pláta in Infraestructura Jejapo Competition Category.

PlátaInfraestructura· 2025

Hydro Yugua

by Xiyao Wang

Client: Extended Play Lab

A' Design Award Pláta Winner in Infraestructura Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #165012

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Colors

The Design

About Hydro Yugua

Hydro-Bridge ha'e peteĩ transporte ñoha ojepurukuaáva heta mba'épe g̃uarã ohasáva Nakkhu Ysyry Chyasikot-pe, Nepal-pe. Oñembohasáva ára rehegua moambue rehe, omba'apo yugua ramo tapicha ha karumbé i'ỹva'ekue rehegua jasy kángy jave ha oñembohasa y ñongatu sistema ha tenda hekorosãva ramo tiempo ysajere jave. Omoñondive infraestructura tenda opavavépe g̃uarã ndive, ko diseño hesakã tekoha mbarete, tekove porãite ha comunidad remikotevẽ oñembojoajúvo tekoha ypykuéra ndive.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Pláta

Hydro Yugua ohupyty A' Design Award Pláta, peteĩ ñehechakuaa extraordinariamente prestigioso oñeme'ẽva diseño de primera línea, hechapyrãva ha impresionante-pe. Umi ganador Pláta ha'e tembiapo brillante ha heta creativo ohechaukáva expertise, talento ha agudeza sobresaliente umi diseñador-pe. Oñeha'ãrõ Hydro Yugua ha'eha peteĩ tembiapo maravilloso, ejemplar, profesional ha innovador pypukuvéva. Ko diseño ohupytýva A' Design Award Pláta ha'e invento ojehechakuaáva ha ojehayhúva ohepyme'ẽva ha ombohasáva límite arte, ciencia, diseño ha tecnología rehegua. Hydro Yugua ha'e creación heta ojeenvidiáva omokyre'ỹva ipotapy, ome'ẽva sentimiento positivo ha omoheñóiva maravilla ha sorpresa.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Hydro-Bridge is an adaptive, multifunctional pedestrain bridge in Chyasikot, Nepal. Designed to address the region's seasonal changes, it serves as a pedestrian and light vehicle bridge during dry periods and transforms into a water storage system and secure camping site during the rainy season. Its unique design merges public space and infrastructure, integrating environmental adaptation, sustainability, and community functionality, all while emphasizing harmony with the natural landscape.
Dimensions & Packaging: The bridge is 7m tall and 8m wide.
Tags: bridge, infrastructure, sustainable design, climate change
Production Technology: Steel structure with metal detailing and glass roof collecting rain water. Parametric design tools are used to design the bridge.
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge was designing a structure that responds to both community needs and the natural environment. Overcoming the constraints of budget, materials, and complex seasonal dynamics required interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, engineers, and hydrologists. The need to balance aesthetics with functionality, and to create a design that could withstand Nepal's intense monsoon season, while still offering public utility in drier months, pushed the creative boundaries and led to innovative structural solutions.
Research: The research behind Hydro-Bridge focused on sustainable infrastructure in flood-prone areas. The objective was to explore how built environments could adapt to climate conditions. The methodology involved site analysis, climate modeling, and user behavior studies, combining environmental data with structural analysis. Results showed the need for dual-purpose infrastructure that provides public space and addresses seasonal needs. This research highlights the bridge’s capacity to support urban resilience while fostering sustainable social spaces.
Inspiration: The inspiration came from the need to develop resilient infrastructure in regions prone to drastic weather shifts. Nepal’s monsoon seasons present significant challenges, which inspired the bridge’s dual function as a dry-season bridge and a rainy-season water storage solution. Drawing from the fluidity of natural water systems and vernacular architecture, the project offers a public space that embraces the rhythms of its environment and creates opportunities for social engagement.
Project Duration: Project is located Nakkhu River in Chyasikot, Nepal. First conceived in 2019.
Operation Flow: Hydro-Bridge operates dynamically based on the seasonal cycle. During the dry season, it functions as a bridge for pedestrians and light vehicles. As monsoon rains begin, it transforms into a system that captures and stores rainwater. The design allows people to interact with the structure, using it as a social hub while benefiting from its adaptable functionality. Its design provides seamless transitions, reflecting an intelligent response to environmental changes and offering a public space that supports community interaction.