The Elliðaá is a nearly 4.5-mile-long river that cuts through Reykjavík, Iceland. For almost two-thirds of its span, the waterway is split and runs parallel to itself. At the mouth of the river is Geirsnef, a public park popular with locals and their dogs, which are able to run free in the area. Access to and around the marshlands of Geirsnef can be a bit difficult. And those who build on the land must be mindful of the wildlife living in the area.

To improve access to the land without disturbing it, local architecture firm Teiknistofan Tröð was tasked with designing a pair of public bridges in the space. The firm decided to create two identical bridges, each constructed from a trio of red-painted steel columns. The structures resemble tilted pyramids, and are striking though simple in form. . “The goal was to minimize the use of material by giving the bridges a basic shape that also becomes their identity,” the firm said in a statement. “The stable basic structural systems allowed material usage and construction cost to be minimized.”

Steel tension rods extend from the top of the pyramids to hold the 118-foot-long decks below.

In keeping with the nondisruptive nature of the project, Teiknistofan Tröð installed LED lights on the bridges as well as the pathways connecting the structures; these lights use less energy and last longer than traditional ones. “The new pedestrian and cycle bridges present a positive change in form of transport,” said the firm, “but simultaneously, by our choice of materials, color, and shape of the bridge structure, they have clear reference to the surroundings.”