Hydro Pons by Xiyao Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum in Infrastructura Competition Category.

ArgentumInfrastructura· 2025

Hydro Pons

by Xiyao Wang

Client: Extended Play Lab

Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum Winner in Infrastructura Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #165012

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Hydro Pons

Hydro-Pons est centrum versatile transportationis quod flumen Nakkhu in Chyasikot, Nepalia transcurrit. Se accommodat mutationibus aestivalibus, fungens ut pons peditum vehiculorumque levium mensibus siccis, et convertens in systema conservationis aquae castraque secura tempore monsoni. Infrastructuram cum spatio publico miscens, forma resilientiam ambientalem, sustentabilitatem, et necessitates communitatis praeponit, dum cum facie naturali terrae consentit.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Argenteum

Hydro Pons victor est Praemii A' Design Award Argenteum, honoris eximie amplissimi formis summi generis, pulchris et conspicuis dati. Victores Argenti opera valde splendida et creandi ingenio praedita sunt, quae praestantem peritiam, talentum et acumen auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Hydro Pons opus mirabile, exemplare, valde professionale et penitus novum fore. Haec forma Argento victa inventum notabile et admiratum est, quod ad fines artis, scientiae, formandi rationis et technologiae promovendos confert. Hydro Pons creatio est, quam multi invident, quae cupiditates excitat, sensus bonos affert et admirationem miraculumque movet.

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.