Peeking over the railing, what do you observe? It’s The Living Bridge in Dusseldorf’s Media Harbour. This isn’t just a way to cross the water. It’s a destination.
The Living Bridge resulted from a city competition around the year 2000. Dusseldorf sought to improve pedestrian access to the headland near the Hyatt Regency Dusseldorf. The bridge and its restaurant were built from 2004 to 2005. The project cost 5.9 million euros.
JSK, an architectural firm based in Frankfurt am Main, designed the structure. The design was later developed by Dusseldorf planners working at the office of Sop Architects.
This unique construction draws inspiration from “living bridges”. These are bridges inhabited and commercially used. Think of the Rialto Bridge and Ponte Vecchio. An exhibition in the NRW-Forum Dusseldorf in 2000 showcased historical architectural models of such bridges.
The Living Bridge spans the harbour basin. It links Am Handelshafen and Julo-Levin-Ufer. The steel beam bridge stretches about 150 meters. The span between the two concrete pillars is 60 meters. From the pillars to the shore each span is 42.9 meters.
The bridge’s structure rises to about 1.5 meters high. It has a variable cross-section. This cross-section increases toward the middle to a width of 11.6 meters.
A three-story restaurant sits on the southwest side. It is called a “bridge house.” This cube-shaped structure measures 14 by 14 meters. Made of concrete, steel, and glass, it rests on piles in the harbour basin. Just above the water, the restaurant features an outdoor terrace. This terrace extends at right angles to the bridge. A steel staircase connects it to the pedestrian bridge.
The pedestrian bridge is open to cyclists too. Wooden planks cover the surface creating a ship deck feel. Steps descend to the sides providing seating. The bridge railings are made of glass. White Plexiglas cubes protrude from the wooden deck. Light strips in the steps illuminate the structure at night.
In 2005, The Living Bridge won the special “Municipalities” prize. It was part of the Renault Traffic Design Award. This award recognized the bridge’s innovative design and contribution to urban space.
So, as you cross The Living Bridge, remember its story. It is a tale of architectural vision. It is a connection between past inspirations and modern design. It is a functional structure and a destination.