Re-Creating the Rainbow Bridge

A team of American and Chinese experts constructed a pier-free arch bridge in China based only on a 12th century silk scroll painting as part of a television series for PBS. The bridge consists of two arch frames—one three sided, one four-sided—that are “woven” together around cross-beams and tied with bamboo. Though the bridge is made of short, straight timbers, it gives the appearance of a gracefully curved arch. The design and construction were approached as they would have been in 12th century China, resulting in a cross-cultural collaboration that was both stimulating and rewarding.