Landscape architect BuroLandschap has completed Cycling Between Terrils, an S-shaped bridge over a lake in an eastern province of Belgium shaped by its coal mining past.
The 400-metre crossing connects the municipalities of Dilsen-Stokkem and Maasmechelen and is the latest attraction built for Tourism of Limburg’s cycling network in Hoge Kempen National Park.
BuroLandschap‘s structure links two towering “terrils”, a local word for the slagheap mountains formed by large piles of mining waste repurposed as a leisure destination for hikers and cyclists.
“The goal was to create a structure that integrates seamlessly into the natural and historical landscape, providing a unique experience for cyclists and pedestrians while maintaining ecological and environmental harmony,” studio founder Pieter Daenen told Dezeen.
Instead of a straight crossing between the two banks of the artificial lake, BuroLandschap designed an S-shaped bridge that brings users close to the water and encourages cyclists to slow down and take in the scenery.
The studio’s idea for Cycling Between Terrils’ curving shape was rooted in the principles of the Fibonacci sequence or the Golden Ratio, the mathematical theory often used to create visual balance and proportion.
“Its flowing lines and organic form make it feel like a natural extension of the environment, further enhancing the connection between visitors and the surrounding nature,” added Daenen.
The water level on the gravel extraction lake can rise or fall as much as 130 centimetres and Cycling Between Terrils has been designed with a modular system that can adapt to this fluctuation.
Working with engineering consultancy Tractebel, the architect built a chain of 30 hinged pontoon elements each stretching 13 metres in length.
The modules are connected using flexible joints, allowing the structure to move with the water, and anchored to the lakebed below by submerged steel pilings.
A concrete base is filled with polystyrene insulation, which allows the pontoon to float and contributes to the bridge’s stability. Its upper section and balustrade are crafted out of durable steel.
To blend in with the surrounding environment, Cycling Between Terrils is finished with a surface layer of Maas gravel extracted from the Maas River.
“This natural material not only enhances the aesthetic integration with the nearby cycling paths but also ensures a non-slip and comfortable surface for cyclists and pedestrians,” said Daenen.
The 3.3-metre-wide bridge can accommodate cyclists and pedestrians and is one of a number of attractions built in the park in Limburg to draw tourists to the region, known as Belgium’s “cycling province”.
The area now known as Terhills, which lies in eastern Limburg just five kilometres from the Dutch border, was once home to the Eisden coal mine site that closed in 1987. Its remnants include four artificial hills around the deep gravel lake, now densely forested with a steep trail for hikers to enjoy panoramic views.
Other completed projects in the park include an elevated cycle path Cycling Through the Trees designed by BuroLandschap and De Gregorio & Partners.
A four-kilometre-long cycle path, Cycling Through the Heathland, was designed by studios Maat-Ontwerpers and Bart Lens and completed in 2022. It cuts through the Mechelse Heide heathland and includes a 300-metre-long wooden bridge.
The photography is by Pieter Rabijns.
