2021

Building Bridges

Building Bridges presents a bridge design connecting the individual to the collective.

In the neoliberal political landscape of The Netherlands, individualistic ideals are prevalent; the individual’s interests take precedence over the groups’, and there’s a high expectancy of self-responsibility and self-development. Ideals meant for creating independence for the individual in relation to a social structure. 

But as globalization and social media enlarge our living environment, mass-individualism takes a competitive turn. In order to be “seen”, we aspire to work harder and live happier than the people around us. This social comparison can lead to personal insecurities, chronic dissatisfaction, and many more mental difficulties affecting our daily lives. 

Building Bridges attempts to break away from individualistic behavior, by re-connecting the individual to the collective using an intervention in the public space. This bridge design creates inevitable situations of interaction between the crossing individuals. Rather than quickly walking down the other side, the design encourages them to make eye contact, make place or sit down together. Instead of perceiving others as objects to overcome, Building Bridges invokes a collective mindset as a counterweight to the imposed individualistic norms.