An Schoenmaekers’ Post

“The Polderserpent” of the Waaslandhaven. Every landscape tells its own story and sometimes, design helps give it a shape. The Flemish Government has officially approved the western access of the Waaslandhaven, including the new cycling bridge over the railway triangle, I affectionately call "the Polderserpent". Its form emerged from the flow of the landscape: a long, sinuous line winding across tracks and roads. Inspired by the skeleton of a snake, the bridge reveals a rhythmic play of ribs and curves, supported by a strong central spine. Following this rhythm, the balustrade traces the structure beneath, a continuous gesture of motion. The soft, sandy tones mirror the hues of the surrounding polder landscape, allowing the bridge to belong rather than stand apart. Designing "the Polderserpent" was about more than connecting two sides. As always it was about weaving infrastructure into the landscape, and letting form grow naturally from its environment.