Middle Rhine Bridge

Designing a bridge in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley - a UNESCO World Heritage Area - is a unique chance to investigate how to use infrastructure to improve qualities of natural landscape spaces. The design reduces the visual impact of the structure by omitting any pilons or cables above deck and therefore not having a too technical, engineered appearance.

Project Details +

Project Details

LOCATION: Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Koblenz, Germany
CLIENT: Landeszentrale Mobilität Rheinland-Pfalz
DATE: 2009
STATUS: Invited Competition
SIZE: Length of Main Bridge 380m

Credits +

Credits

ACME: Julia Cano, Stefano Dal Piva, Sebastian Drewes, Deena Fakhro, Michael Haller, Friedrich Ludewig, Monica Preziuso

Existing access ramp

Elevated ramps on columns

Raised roads

The bridge itself is designed as a slim steel ribbon of 2.0 m - 3.0 m thickness and is only increased in height where the bridge touches the ground. The openness of the landscape is maintained and the bridge integrates into the hierarchy of the valley.

Short section at pier

Long section at left abutment

Long section at pier

Long section at right abutment

The surrounding of the bridge is interpreted in continuity with the existing characteristics of the valley. To emphasize the differences of both banks two distinct landscape typologies are introduced. The south bank is designed as a flat, terraced surface using slightly kinked slate walls and linear tree rows. The north bank is quite different: taking the existing open space as a basis, a landscape park is created. With its organic forms and continuous green areas a high-value, attractive local recreation area is created.

The bridge and the new landscape parks become integral, sculptural parts of the Upper Middle Rhine world heritage area unifying structural, cultural, economical and ecological demands in an exemplary way.