Memorial Bridge
Rijeka
The Memorial Bridge is a spatial intervention and an urban public object, a construction with tactile properties and a symbolic object. It is a pedestrian bridge that embodies the utilitarian function and a memory of the Croatian war of Independence veterans, a place of memory and piety, but also a social gathering and socializing spot.
The Bridge is located in the center of Rijeka, on the channel which separates the historic city center from the former port, at one of the most potent sites for future construction.
It is designed as an extremely thin plate (65cm) connecting the two banks of the channel in a characteristic L-shape, it extends across the channel and ends with a monumental vertical accent. The definition of the public space was achieved through the structure of the bridge itself, which at the same time must be recognized as a memorial object.
A four year long research resulted in the construction specially designed and manufactured exclusively for this project. Each part of the bridge was an industrially designed and manufactured product that was assembled on site. The 150 tons heavy steel bridge structure was produced in a local shipyard, and carried by sea in one piece on a specially designed barge to the location.
As the Memorial Bridge had to pass under two existing bridges on its way to the site, the barge was designed so that it can sink at the time of lowest water levels and go under the existing bridges with its burden.
This urban public hybrid has changed the vista of the city (in the material as well as mental sense) and has achieved its goal of being a Memorial Bridge.
Fact Sheet
Project name
Memorial Bridge
project number
018
program
public, urban planning
status
completed
project
1997 - 2001
Construction
2001 - 2001
Location
Croatia, Rijeka, Mrtvi kanal
Site area
1046 m²
Size
262 m²
Footprint
262 m²
altitude
1.7 m
author
3LHD
client
City of Rijeka
Project Team
Silvije Novak, Marko Dabrović, Saša Begović, Tatjana Grozdanić Begović, Siniša Glušica, Koraljka Brebrić Kleončić, Milan Štrbac
Project team collaborators
Almes-eko - Branko Jurjević; Sapa AB - Mikael Lindqvist, Nova-lux; Osram - Berislav Medić
Structural Engineering
Ces - Jean Wolf, Zoran Novački, Dušan Srejić; UPI-2M - Berislav Medić; Sapa AB - Mikael Lindqvist; Almes-eko - Branko Jurjević
Photography
Aljoša Brajdić, Damir Fabijanić, 3LHD
Main Contractor
Almes-eko, Ribarić
