The frame of the Bridge Pavilion is built in steel. Its cladding is inspired by shark scales and creates a natural microclimate in the interior. This is a cooling system where air is exchanged through the building´s porous skin. The central support bears nearly half of the structural load a weight of nearly 7,000 tonnes. The foundations consist of 22 piles, ten of which are located on the central islet, four on the right bank and eight on the left bank. From: www.expozaragoza2008.es

"We designed an envelope for the Bridge Pavilion that encloses the exhibition spaces yet can be permeated by natural elements. The internal micro-environment varies with the external climate and requires minimal cooling or heating infrastructure. In particular, we considered the local Cierzo wind when designing the skin. A variety of openings convey and direct air into the building’s interior -cooling visitors in the heat of the summer." Zaha Hadid The design merges two traditionally distinct and separate building typologies: the "infrastructure" element (the bridge) and an "architectural" element (the pavilion). With the Bridge Pavilion design, Zaha Hadid Architects has challenged the conventional idea of a bridge being purely engineering. From: www.arcspace.com