Project Story: Light that shapes space and memory

For 3LHD, the Memorial Bridge was the studio’s first major built project, and at the same time a proving ground for acquiring essential knowledge in the fields of construction, collaboration with engineers, and public communication. The successful realization of such a complex and technologically demanding structure earned the office international recognition and opened the door to numerous future projects. For this work, 3LHD received one of the world’s most prestigious awards for young architects — the AR+D Award, presented by the esteemed British magazine The Architectural Review. The bridge was not designed to dominate its surroundings, but to enhance them — offering, through its minimalist form, a platform for remembrance, encounter, and expression. 

One of the most striking features of the bridge is its integrated LED lighting, which from the outset formed an essential part of the architectural concept. Today, LED lighting is ubiquitous — found in every home, public space, and outdoor environment — to the point where it feels as if it has always been part of our world. Yet in 2001, the Memorial Bridge was the first outdoor structure in the world illuminated with LED technology. The lighting strips were integrated into the bridge’s handrails, creating the effect of a floating structure at night. The bridge emits a subtle, almost ethereal glow, further emphasizing its simple yet powerful geometry.

The bridge featured the implementation of a lighting module called “Rev 00”, developed as a prototype — the so-called zero series. From a technological perspective, this was a sophisticated system: LED modules were inserted into aluminum profiles, hermetically sealed with epoxy resin, and integrated into precisely crafted wooden handrails. This tripartite material combination — wood, aluminum, and light — required a level of detailing usually seen in interior design. The collaboration with the renowned company Osram added further technical reliability and innovation to the project.

The Memorial Bridge is a significant urban public structure located in the center of Rijeka, spanning the canal that separates the city’s historic core from its former port. While primarily a pedestrian bridge serving a practical function, it simultaneously embodies the memory of Croatian defenders. It is both a site of remembrance and a space for social gathering and interaction — a symbolically powerful, architecturally refined structure that merges collective memory with the needs of the contemporary urban environment.