A 33-meter-long suspension bridge, built from more than 260,000 LEGO® bricks, will be on display at Qatar National Library from 28 November 2018 through 6 January 2019. First exhibited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) – Bridge Engineering, it is the longest such structure in the world.
Entitled ‘Qatar’s Little Builders: Bridging Communities,’ the exhibit is intended to ignite a passion for engineering, mathematics and architecture in the Library’s young visitors. The bridge also symbolizes the strong cultural ties between Qatar and the UK as part of the fifth edition of 2018 Qatar British Festival, organized in collaboration with the British Council and the British Embassy in Qatar.
The bridge will be half-built when it opens on 28 November. Over the following week, visitors will be able to help assemble the bridge, with engineers providing the necessary instruction. Experts from the Bright Bricks and ICE will also hold workshops for students visiting the Library on school tours.
‘The suspension bridge is a remarkable feat of engineering, and we are proud to offer families and children the opportunity to engage in a single activity that truly fits all ages,’ said Dr. Sohair Wastawy, Executive Director of Qatar National Library. ‘The bridge building activity will also allow them to appreciate the relationship between engineering and architecture and, hopefully, consider pursuing careers in these fields.’
Sam Ayton, Director of the British Council, Qatar said: ‘The British Council is proud to bring the fifth British Festival to audiences in Qatar. Through this festival, we aim to connect audiences in Qatar with some of the best contemporary British art, while helping families discover the fun side of culture and learn something new. We are delighted to partner with Qatar National Library, and we are looking forward to more collaboration in the near future.’
The bridge was designed by Dr. Robin Sham, a fellow of the ICE. Bright Bricks, a UK-based builder of large-scale LEGO® structures, and LEGO® Certified Professionals constructed this replica of the 2016 bridge with AECOM engineers and volunteers.
