Stainless steel cable mesh gives Hasselt’s Experience Bridge an open outlook
A transparent balustrade for a remarkable connection across Hasselt’s canal basin
With its elegant lines in Corten steel, the new Experience Bridge is a striking architectural feature along the Blauwe Boulevard in Hasselt. The bridge connects Broekermolenplein with Scheepvaartplein, providing not only a crossing for pedestrians and cyclists but also a place to enjoy views over the canal basin. N2Mesh supplied custom-made stainless steel cable mesh for the balustrades, preserving the bridge’s open character.
The Experience Bridge marks the final stage of the redevelopment of Hasselt’s canal basin and is an important link in the Blauwe Boulevard project. More than ten years after the demolition of the previous bridge, the new pedestrian and cycle bridge reconnects both sides of the canal basin.
Measuring 56 metres in length and nearly 14.5 metres at its widest point, the bridge is much more than a simple crossing. Rest areas, benches and greenery have been incorporated into the design, allowing visitors to stop along the way and enjoy views of the marina and the surrounding urban development.
For a bridge where the view plays such an important role, stainless steel cable mesh offers several interesting advantages. Its fine cable structure provides largely unobstructed views, without the reflections that can occur with glass panels.
Rainwater and wind can also pass through the open mesh, resulting in lower wind loads on the infill compared with solid panels. In addition, stainless steel cable mesh is relatively lightweight and can adapt to curved or inclined structures.
There are also advantages in terms of maintenance. While fingerprints, limescale deposits and rain marks quickly become visible on glass, such marks are generally less noticeable on the fine stainless steel cables.
“The balustrade provides protection without dominating the view. Up close, the cables and mesh openings are clearly visible; from a greater distance, they form a delicate network that blends into the surroundings.”
For a bridge where the view plays such an important role, stainless steel cable mesh offers several interesting advantages. Its fine cable structure provides largely unobstructed views, without the reflections that can occur with glass panels.
Rainwater and wind can also pass through the open mesh, resulting in lower wind loads on the infill compared with solid panels. In addition, stainless steel cable mesh is relatively lightweight and can adapt to curved or inclined structures.
There are also advantages in terms of maintenance. While fingerprints, limescale deposits and rain marks quickly become visible on glass, such marks are generally less noticeable on the fine stainless steel cables.
Cable mesh manufactured to the client's specifications
The design combines a Corten steel supporting structure with slightly outward-leaning posts and a rounded handrail. The stainless steel cable mesh fills the entire balustrade between these elements.
For this infill, mesh openings of 60 × 106 mm were specified, using 3 mm diameter AISI 316 stainless steel cable.
N2Mesh manufactured the cable mesh according to these specifications, ensuring a seamless fit with the architectural choices made for the project.