Memorial Bridge, Rijeka

The basic concept is to give the utilitarian form a monumental character.
The bridge starts from the Downtown, goes over the channel and ends on the other bank with a monumental vertical - accent.
We would like to emphasize that the bridge is a monument so that in this sense we equate the walking surface of the bridge with the covering of the vertical accent.
Definition of public space is achieved entirely through the build structure, which at the same time had to be recognized as a memorial building.
This spatial intervention is public urban object; it is construction with tactile qualities, and also symbolic object.
This is Memorial Pedestrian Bridge in the City of Rijeka.
The site is in the very centre of the town on the canal separating the historical centre from the former port area presently used as a parking lot which will become City Park in the future.
Besides its utilitarian function {purpose} this pedestrian crossing is also monument to Croatian defenders, a place of memory and place of social encounter as well. Memorial Bridge is conceived as an extremely thin board spanned over the canal in a characteristic L-shape.
Definition of public space is achieved entirely through the build structure, which at the same time had to be recognized as a memorial building.
These two archetype elements would be impossible to accomplish without the use of the internet {we can say thank you, Google!}.
Every part of this product was designed like industrially conceived product. The elements are industrially produced and than put together on site! This 150 tons construction was entirely produced in one piece in local Shipyard. And then the Bridge construction was lifted and put on the specially designed barge and then it was transported to its position in canal. The barge was designed so that can be sunken down and with the help of high and low tide we were able to lower down and pull it under the two existing bridges.
It was of course major social event that day and also on the opening day.
Night illumination makes this place magical. This urban-public hybrid changed the image of the city both in physical and symbolic way.

Memorial Bridge, Rijeka by Saša Begovic in Croatia won the WA Award Cycle 4. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.