Hydro Àkwà mmiri by Xiyao Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha in Nhazi Injinịa, Owu Ụlọ na Akụrụngwa Competition Category.

ỌlaọchaAkụrụngwa· 2025

Hydro Àkwà mmiri

by Xiyao Wang

Client: Extended Play Lab

Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha Winner in Akụrụngwa Category

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The Design

About Hydro Àkwà mmiri

Hydro-Bridge bụ ebe mgbagharị dị iche iche nke na-agafe Osimiri Nakkhu na Chyasikot, Nepal. Ọ na-agbanwe dịka oge si aga, na-arụ ọrụ dị ka àkwà mmiri maka ndị na-eje ije na ụgbọala ndị dị mfe n'ọnwa akọrọ nku ma na-atụgharị ka ọ bụrụ usoro nchekwa mmiri na ebe ịma ụlọikwu nwere nchebe n'oge mmiri ozuzo. N'ịjikọta akụrụngwa na ogige ọha, ihe e mepụtara a na-ebute ụzọ ike iguzogide gburugburu, nkwado na-adịgide adịgide, na mkpa obodo dị ka ihe kachasị mkpa ma na-emekwa ka ya na ọdịdị ala eke dịrị n'otu.

The Recognition

About the Ihe Nrite A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha

Hydro Àkwà mmiri meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha, nnabata dị oke ugwu e nyere design ndị dị n'ọkwa kachasị elu, mara mma ma na-eju anya. Ndị meriri na Ọlaọcha bụ ọrụ na-egbu maramara nke ukwuu ma dị oke nzụlite nke na-egosi ọmarịcha ihe ọmụma, talent na nghọta nke ndị designer ha. A na-atụ anya na Hydro Àkwà mmiri ga-abụ ọrụ dị ịtụnanya, ihe nlereanya, nke dị oke ọrụ ma dị omimi n'ihe ọhụrụ. Design a meriri A' Design Award nke Ọlaọcha bụ ihe e mepụtara dị oke ịrịba ama, nke a na-eto nke na-erite uru ma na-ebuga oke nka, sayensị, design na teknụzụ n'ihu. Hydro Àkwà mmiri bụ ihe e kere eke ọtụtụ ndị na-ekwo ekworo ya nke na-akpali ọchịchọ, na-eweta mmetụta ọma ma na-akpali ịtụnanya.

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.