A new bridge concept spanning the River Seine, designed by Paris-based architectural studio Atelier Zündel Cristea, is a little different from the 37 existing ones.

The trampoline bridge was created based on a brief for a competition titled "A Bridge in Paris", and consists of three giant inflatable PVC buoys, with an arch-like form, connected by cord to either side of the Seine, and situated close to the existing Bir-Hakiem bridge.

The buoys would span 30 meters (98 feet) in diameter each, and filled with 3,700 cubic meters (130,664 feet) or air. Within the rings, a trampoline mesh would allow pedestrians to bounce their way from La Rive Gouche on one side of the river to La Rive Droite on the other. With any luck, they won't end up in the water.

Trampoline Bridge

According to Atelier Zündel Cristea, the sides of each section flip up under the right amount of tension to keep thrill seekers from falling over the bridge. The competition challenged contestants to come up with a New Contemporary Bridge for the city and create a new icon or landmark.

As the 37 existing bridges already adequately process Paris' traffic flow, the idea for AZC was to create a "playful" design to encourage "contemporary urban enjoyment". The transitory architecture provides a unique experience: an opportunity to view all of Paris.

The winning competition entry is also based on the concept of happiness. The designers recognize a link between joy and freedom of body and soul, and have made something "fun and frivolous" to combat "stressful Paris". "It appears to us that Paris has the bridges and passages necessary for the flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic across its waterways," says architects AZC.

"Our intention is to invite its visitors and inhabitants to engage on a newer and more playful path across this same water." Health and safety issues have been raised, questioning whether the design could serve as a practical option. It is not clear whether the trampoline bridge will actually be installed.

The picturesque and historic River Seine already hosts 37 existing bridges. The most recent bridge construction in France's capital was the Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir, unveiled in 2006. The oldest, the Pont Neuf, was built 400 years earlier in 1607, under Henry IV.

Image Copyright Atelier Zündel Cristea