The
early years of the 21st century have brought a number
of fascinating bridge projects to Europe. From the
Millennium Bridges in the United Kingdom to this pedestrian
bridge spanning the Dead Canal in Rijeka. It is a
wonderful piece of work. Simplistic in appearance,
but with a significant visual impact. During the day
it appears as a smooth slab extending from Korzo to
Delta. It is so perfect and incongruous with its surroundings
that the bridge appears almost otherworldly. This
sense is heightened at night when it is bathed in
calm, cool LED light reflected by the water just inches
below. It is called Memorial Bridge because it incorporates
a monument to the Croatian soldiers who fought for
their country. It was in the Delta neighborhood that
they gathered before being shipped off to the front.
It includes a place where the public can leave flowers,
candles, and other tributes. In the words of Marko
Dabrovic:
"Our
response to the task was to create a bridge as a
monument, to equalize the utilitarian and symbolic
functions, construction and form. The structure
consists of two archetypal elements – a plank laid
over the canal as the bridge and a slab driven into
the earth as the monument. These two elements are
joined into a homogeneous and strong L-shaped form
which from a horizontal of the bridge breaks into
a vertical of the monument. Symbolic emphasis is
accomplished by a cleft in the vertical element
and a red memorial slab in the cleft extension.
In other words, the task we set ourselves was to
make a structure that would dominate the area, while
at the same time awakening an intimate feeling,
that is -- to create a ‘monument for walking'."
The
bridge was assembled at a shipyard and floated into
place. A special barge had to be built to move the
structure because it had to sail underneath existing
bridges on the same canal. It gets its special color
from planks of aluminum-magnesium alloy that enhance
its appeal and help it resist sea salt corrosion.
The railing is made of glass topped by a wooden hand
rail.
- May,
2002: The Memorial Bridge wins the Croatian architectural
award for best project realization of 2001.
Julian Salerno - 19 October, 2002: