The project arises from the need to connect the shores Tabor Lent and separated by the river Drava, with the aim of reinforcing and reconnecting it with the city.
The proposal responds to some assumptions that we considered necessary in the project:
1_ Less environment impact on the in the river. "
To achieve a less environmental impact on the river, we must not act in it.
We must solve the problem by spanning from one side of the river to the other with only two supports.
There won´t be any intermediate support in the river
2_ Minor visual impact.
The structure has to be very light, almost "transparent".
We must achieve the least visual impact.
The gateway "disappears" to allow views of the river through it.
Conceptual idea:
The old town has so much character that we don´t want to change this image with a striking element. We propose a new piece for the river without image, without presence, almost intangible, like a "ghost" bridge, like a tightrope walker. This way, some foggy days it can almost disappear. At night, it´s absence would suggest that pedestrians and cyclists are floating on water.
We propose a gateway that spans over the 130 m with only two supports, and a structure as light as possible. To build a bridge like this, we need the structure to be as high as possible.
We propose to link the city of Maribor at all levels, not just the riverbanks (253.2 m), but also its two main levels: Level 1_ LENT - TABOR (River Level) 256 , 7 m, and Level 3_ Glavni Square - Square revolucije (Level Center - City) 265.2 m.
The great height of the beam enables us to introduce a new level in the large truss-bridge, Level 2 (260.9 m)
This way, we create a bridge in 3 overlapping levels. Actually there are 3 bridges in 1. Two connecting pedestrians and cyclists, and one in the middle static, to fish, to host activities, markets, ect, as a big platform on the river:
Level 1 _ LENT - TABOR (River Level) 256.7 m.
Level 2_ PLATFORM ON THE RIVER (Viewpoint) 260.9 m.
Level 3_ Glavni PLAZA - PLAZA revolucije (Level Center - City) 265.2 m.