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1998 REALIZATION

The pedestrian bridge is located within a complex of gas stations on the Adriatic highway. The complex is named 'The Door of Adriatic', since it presents the first view of the sea for passengers travelling from the north. The complex includes two gas stations, two restaurants of 800m2, an information desk and a 50-room motel. The project for the complex started in 1995 and the bridge was designed in 1998, coinciding with the complex's the first stage of building construction (the building the both gas stations and site preparation of the entire designated area). All buildings within this type of complex are driven by commercial processes, where there is a constant tension for cost reduction. This context initiated the thinking of the bridge as a complete product, whereby any part cannot be easily removed or replaced. The bridge is designed as a tube made by a row of elliptical steel rings that are covered by a mesh of perforated steel plates. The elliptic shape was chosen due to its ideal ratio between its height and width for the pedestrian area. The steel-plate mesh serves a double function. On the one hand, it acts as the mandatory protection fence, which is to prevent objects from falling on the highway. On the other hand, it is structural, bearing part of the horizontal loads. A pedestrian path of wooden planks, contains a series of lamps lining its edges. V-shaped, reinforced concrete columns on the both sides support the steel construction of the bridge, they also contain the staircases.

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