Nuh’un Gemisi

Nuh’un Gemisi (Noah’s Ark) is an ecological bridge proposal that aims to reconnect habitats in Istanbul’s Northern Forests divided by the Northern Marmara Motorway. Awarded first prize in Steelpro 2019, the project seeks to restore continuity between forest flora and fauna fragmented by the motorway.

Safe movement between habitats and food sources is the starting point of the design. The bridge responds to the area’s animal diversity and vegetation, with planting proposed from species found in the Northern Forests. Its organic form widens at the ends and narrows towards the central span to connect the crossing with the surrounding terrain.

Parametric Structure

The distribution of openings in the steel beams was developed from bending, shear and deflection diagrams. These data were transferred to Grasshopper to explore the number and size of openings parametrically. Openings increase at midspan and decrease towards the ends, aiming to reduce structural weight while maintaining resistance to shear forces.

A Protected Wildlife Crossing

Timber rods and panels on the inner face of the steel structure are designed to reduce the motorway’s light and noise effects. This layer, referred to as the “boat”, screens animals from the road and encloses the crossing. Landscape, deck and secondary beams, steel cables and reinforced-concrete foundations are considered together.

The presentation boards also develop the construction sequence from structural fabrication to on-site assembly. They show foundation preparation, lifting and placement of structural segments, installation of secondary beams, and completion of the deck, waterproofing and soil layers.