An extraordinary fusion of design innovation and ecological foresight has landed in the French capital: the Diamanti Bridge, a groundbreaking example of sustainable construction and computational design. First presented as part of the European Cultural Centre’s Time, Space, Existence exhibition in Venice, the project is now poised to make its Parisian debut on the historic Île de la Cité.
This futuristic footbridge reimagines not only how we build, but why. By combining 3D printing, modular thinking, and carbon-conscious engineering, Diamanti offers a real-world demonstration of how infrastructure can evolve toward both beauty and sustainability.
A 3D printed concrete bridge that redefines form and function
At the core of the Diamanti Bridge is an ambitious collaboration led by Professor Dr. Masoud Akbarzadeh and his team at the Polyhedral Structures Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. Working alongside global partners—including Sika Group Switzerland, Dutch fabricator Vertico, and French-based Carsey3D—the team designed a 3D printed concrete bridge composed of nine prefabricated segments.
Each segment is robotically printed using a specialized two-component cementitious mix developed by Sika. These geometries are far from ornamental: the segments are engineered with embedded voids and anticlastic surfaces that distribute structural loads while significantly reducing material use and embodied carbon.
Sustainable construction example with architectural vision
The upcoming installation of Diamanti Bridge in Paris marks a pivotal step in turning theoretical breakthroughs into sustainable construction examples that live in public space. Designed around the logic of Polyhedral Graphic Statics, the bridge channels both compressive and tensile forces through an optimized form. The structure, while visually complex, is rooted in material simplicity and logic—relying on computational precision to minimize mass without compromising strength.
Originally shown as a 2.5-meter prototype at the Venice Biennale, the design has already been scaled up to a 9-meter version, tested and validated under full structural load. Now, the full-scale bridge is set to come to life in Paris, with local partners including Sika France and Carsey3D overseeing construction.
The site on Île de la Cité adds poetic resonance to the project: a futuristic bridge connecting past and future in the very heart of historic Paris. Diamanti becomes not just a crossing, but a symbol—of what architecture can become when form, fabrication, and climate responsibility converge.
Image courtesy of MASOUD AKBARZADEH
Image courtesy of MASOUD AKBARZADEH
Image courtesy of MASOUD AKBARZADEH
