Hydro Daraja by Xiyao Wang is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Uhandisi, Ujenzi na Miundombinu Competition Category.

FedhaMiundombinu· 2025

Hydro Daraja

by Xiyao Wang

Client: Extended Play Lab

Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award Winner in Miundombinu Category

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Colors

The Design

About Hydro Daraja

Hydro-Bridge ni kituo cha usafiri chenye matumizi mengi kinachoelea Mto Nakkhu huko Chyasikot, Nepal. Kinajibadilisha kulingana na mabadiliko ya misimu, kikifanya kazi kama daraja la watembea kwa miguu na magari mepesi katika miezi kavu na kubadilika kuwa mfumo wa kuhifadhi maji na kambi salama wakati wa masika. Kwa kuunganisha miundombinu na eneo la umma, muundo huu unaweka kipaumbele ustahimilivu wa mazingira, uendelevu, na mahitaji ya jamii huku ukilingana na mandhari asilia.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award

Hydro Daraja ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa ya ajabu unaotolewa kwa miundo ya hali ya juu kabisa, ya kupendeza na ya kuvutia. Washindi wa Fedha ni kazi zinazong'aa mno na bunifu kupita kiasi zinazoonyesha utaalamu bora, kipaji na busara ya wabunifu wao. Hydro Daraja inatarajiwa kuwa kazi nzuri ya kuigwa ambayo ni ya kitaalamu kwa kiasi kikubwa na yenye ubunifu wa kina. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award ni uvumbuzi unaojulikana sana na kupendwa, unaonufaisha na kupanua mipaka ya sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia. Hydro Daraja ni kazi inayotamaniwa mno inayochochea hamu, huleta hisia chanya na huzua mshangao na mastaajabu.

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.