Zaha Hadid Architects has built a 3D-printed concrete footbridge named Striatus at the Venice Architecture Biennale that is freestanding and assembled without mortar.
Named Striatus, the 16-metre-long bridge was built by the computation and design team at Zaha Hadid Architects, known as ZHACODE, in collaboration with the Block Research Group (BRG) at Swiss university ETH Zurich. It was constructed from 53 hollow blocks each printed from 500 layers of printed concrete.
Top: the bridge was 3D printed. Above: it was assembled at the Venice Architecture Biennale 
The structure is an unreinforced arched bridge that uses compression and gravity to hold its form. The studios arranged the 3D-printed wedge-shaped elements, known as voussoirs, to form arches and vaults. The bridge has a double-curved deck with swooping stepped entry points placed at either end of the bridge, leading up the structure from its footings.
The bridge has multiple entry points
"The intention was to meet the challenges facing the architecture, engineering and construction industry by demonstrating a responsible way to design with one of its most widely-used and enduring materials - concrete," ZHACODE co-founder Shajay Bhooshan and BRG co-director Philippe Block told Dezeen.
"To do so, we draw from and computationally enhance one of its most ancient wisdoms ? masonry construction."
Printed blocks transfer the load to the footings
The studio looked to historic masonry vaulting t...