In December 2025, Thailand’s Siam Cement Group (SCG) announced that a pedestrian bridge constructed using 3D printing technology has successfully spanned the historic Ong Ang Canal in Bangkok. This milestone marks the first time Thailand has applied large-scale digital manufacturing technology to public infrastructure construction.
Thailand’s 3D-Printed Pedestrian Bridge Spans Bangkok’s Historic Ong Ang Canal
Connecting Tradition and Innovation
Located in Bangkok’s old city district, the Ong Ang Canal has long been central to the city’s history—originally serving as a defensive moat before evolving into an important commercial waterway. The newly built pedestrian bridge draws inspiration from the rhythm of water, reinterpreting this history through architectural expression.
The bridge undulates and winds like waves, linking both sides of the canal while softening the visual heaviness of concrete structures in the dense urban environment. Designed using digital methods, its flowing form and continuous curves echo the canal’s natural cadence, with light and shadow shifting dynamically across the rippling deck.
The steel railings feature linework derived from traditional Thai Kranok motifs, skillfully blending modern design with local cultural heritage.
Walking on Sustainable Materials
All bridge components were 3D printed using low-carbon LC3 concrete, which replaces part of the cement with calcined clay to significantly reduce embodied carbon emissions. The use of clay also echoes Ong Ang’s history as a center of pottery trade, reinforcing the project’s cultural continuity. Each printed component is reinforced with high-performance concrete to achieve a live load capacity of 500 kg per square meter.
Because the construction site had limited accessibility, the bridge was prefabricated off-site and assembled from 19 modular components, each weighing approximately 1.5 tons. The installation was completed within a single day using only a small crane, minimizing disruption to the surrounding community.
The 3D-printed pedestrian bridge built by SCG over Bangkok’s Ong Ang Canal is not merely a passage connecting the two banks, but also a symbol linking the past and the future. Through the use of low-carbon concrete materials and digital manufacturing processes, it skillfully weaves principles of sustainable development, precision modern engineering, and rich cultural heritage into the very fabric of the city’s infrastructure.
3D-Printed Architectural Works
