Nantes University exhibits at the Artibat 2025 trade fair A bridge of talents, symbol of the union of know-how

A privileged opportunity for these professionals to discover the many innovations unveiled by the 1.000 exhibitors at this business event, but not only that. Indeed, in addition to the first announcements on the Collab'Zone (400 m² immersive and forward-looking space for innovation in the construction industry – Hall 2/3), Artibat is unveiling a major project. At the crossroads of disciplines, generations and professions, a new kind of bridge will rise at the heart of the ARTIBAT 2025 exhibition.

Inspired by the sketches of Leonardo da Vinci, this bridge symbolizes the technical inventiveness, the power of the collective and the ecological commitment of a new generation of construction professionals.

This architectural feat is the result of an unprecedented, international, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Nantes University, and in particular Halle 6 Ouest, embarked on this constructive adventure, in addition to the Compagnons du Devoir (French Association of French Students), as well as a number of students from diverse backgrounds: IUTs of Saint-Nazaire and Nantes, Polytech Nantes, Faculty of Science and Technology, Lycée Livet of Nantes, ASO Architecture & Design College (Fukuoka, Japan).

A collaborative work serving learning, eco-design and creativity

The Leonardo da Vinci self-supporting bridge project is, in fact, a multidisciplinary initiative of Nantes University which aims to design, manufacture and assemble a demountable and transportable bridge.

Measuring 6 meters long, 2 meters wide and 1 meter high, this bridge will be presented at the show as a demonstrator of operational interdisciplinarity and will highlight various materials and manufacturing technologies, while integrating sustainable development approaches.

Under the scientific direction of Pascal Casari* and Sébastien Le Loch**, this collaborative experimental bridge project uses reused materials and is part of an approach combining design, digital modeling, structural engineering, material strength, excellent craftsmanship and sustainable aesthetics.

The students organized themselves into specialized working groups, responsible for the design and construction of the bridge components, requiring close coordination to ensure the technical integrity and coherence of the project.

Made up of 3D-printed spans, the work embodies the use of advanced prototyping processes, manufacturing robotics, computer-aided design (CAD) and digital manufacturing, positioning the object at the crossroads of experimentation and applied research. It should also be noted that, in a spirit of transparency and sharing, all 3D files will be made freely accessible by Nantes University.

In summary, this project promotes teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, demonstrating the power of the collective as a lever for achieving shared objectives—fundamental values ​​upheld by the show's organizer.

* Pascal Casari, University Professor at Nantes University in the Physical Measurements Department of the IUT of Saint-Nazaire. Research area: Durability of composite materials and structures.

** Sebastian Le Loch, Lecturer in the Mechanical and Production Engineering (GMP) department. Research area: Design, dimensioning, CAD, choice of materials.

The technical characteristics of its manufacture

The bridge incorporates various materials and manufacturing technologies, such as low-carbon concrete, thermoplastic, wood, as well as foam and raw earth materials, which allow for optimized molding of the concrete parts. These will be produced using digital manufacturing methods, such as the FDM robotic pellet head, the robotic concrete head, and digital wood cutting. The bridge spans are nested on spacers that determine the bridge width. To achieve this, a standard nesting format is defined based on cylindrical shapes with a diameter of 80 mm.

Visitors to the show will be able to admire this magnificent bridge on display in Inter-Hall 2/3. Throughout the event, a load-carrying robot will roam the installation, providing a concrete illustration of the principles of resistance inherited from Leonardo da Vinci and designed by this procession of experts.

Visitor actors: a bridge as a support for learning, research and collective narration

At the show, a pocket-sized assembly kit made from recycled materials will be offered to visitors to encourage the appropriation of this unique work and the message it carries. It should be noted that the miniature spans and the lugs of the deck were made by plastic injection in molds designed by 3D resin printing, thus reducing the costs of prototyping and/or the manufacturing of parts in small series.

For Valérie Sfartz, Director of the Salon: "By inviting itself to ARTIBAT, this bridge concretely illustrates the spirit of the show: creating bridges between research, training, and professionals in the sector. It demonstrates that the challenges of tomorrow's construction must be met together, by combining skills, promoting reuse, experimenting, and drawing inspiration from a genius humanist: Leonardo da Vinci. The partnership with Nantes University, committed to issues of transition and innovation, gives full meaning to this collective approach. ARTIBAT, the largest unifying construction show in 2025, could not dream of a better ambassador for the spirit of the sector and transmission."